Sustainable Design Practices; Marina Tabassum Architects

Emily S. Mwatate- B02/0627/2018

University of Nairobi

Bachelor of Architecture

BAR 505 - SUSTAINABLE DESIGN

 Marina Tabassum Architects

Marina Tabassum, a celebrated architect from Bangladesh, has become a leading figure in sustainable design through her innovative and context-sensitive architectural practice in Marina

Tabassum Architects (MTA).

By redefining sustainable architecture in a local context, Marina Tabassum and her firm MTA are setting new standards for resilience and sustainability in architecture, not only in South

Asia but globally.

Project 1: Bait Ur Rouf Jame Mosque

Location: Faidabad, Dhaka, Bangladesh Climatic Zone of Dhaka: Prevailing winds shift between these directions; Southwest in the rainy season and North to

Architects Competition Stage: Completed in 2012 Northwest in the dry season.

Architects Design and Implementation: Marina Tabassum Architects

Built Area: 753 sqm

Dhaka, Bangladesh, falls within the tropical monsoon climate zone characterized by:

 Warm to hot temperatures throughout the year.

 Monsoon Season during which Dhaka receives the most rainfall (June to September) & Dry Season (November

to Sustainable principles in Bait Ur Roof Jame Mosque.

 1. Building Orientation.

-The building is a square with equal size facades. The orientation is directed by the Qibla, it being a mosque. The

building main entrances are oriented in the South-west and North-west parts of the building. The prevailing

monsoon winds are also from these directions.

2. Services have been located on the East Facing façade to buffer the habitable areas like the hall from direct solar

heat gain. Such services include the washrooms,staircase and the ablution areas which are not as frequently used

as the other spaces.

3. There are minimal openings in this building as visible from the building facades below.

Services
 4. Placement of openings:All fenestrations in the façade have been strategically placed; along the South-facing

facades. In addition, there are no glazed fenestrations in this building. The West and East façade has no windows

other than the porous Jaali brick wall that still alows for air to flow.

5. Use of high thermal mass for the walls. The walls are made of traditional Indian brick and concrete walls in other

cases, which are both more than 200mm thick.

6. Use of Natural ventilation(Stack ventilation)

7. Use of light-colored finishes on the interior to reflect light further into the

building; white smooth polished terazzo flooring, smooth unfinished concrete

walls.

8.Sunshading:The corridors and seating areas in the South facing facades have been

sunshaded by an outer brick wall. The other facades do not need much sunshading because

they have either solid brick walls with little fenestrations, none made of glass, or jaali

perforated brick walls.

9.The building is not necessarily narrow on plan. However, ventilation has been sorted by

the 4 vertical chimneys on either sides of the prayer hall. Natural daylighting strategies

have also been put in place, even with a not-so narrow plan.
10. Use of locally sourced materials like traditional jaali brick wall for walling and white terazzo flooring. These materials have less embodied energy since they are brought from around the neighborhood, rather than

being imported from overseas. Most of the construction has been done by local Indian craftsmen who are skilled with working with bricks.

Project 2: Hamidur Rahman Memorial Complex

Location: Fatullah, Narayanganj District, Dhaka Division, Bangladesh

Architects Competition Stage: Designed in 2014, Completed in 2020

Architects Design and

Marina Tabassum Architects
Implementation:

Built Area: Land Area 1.5 Acres

This project is also located in Dhaka, Bangladesh, same climatic region as that of Bait Ur Roof Jame Mosque.

1. Buildings are narrow in plan allowing for natural ventilation and lighting.

2. Buildings are oriented tilted a little bit off the East-West axis. The shorter facades are facing the North East and South West.

3. Services like staircases and washrooms have been placed along the Eastern/North eastern side of the building.
4. The glazed areas are protected from direct sunlight by an outer concrete and brick wall. This reduces direct solar heat gain by the building through the glass.

5. Use of natural ventilation to cool the interior spaces. The building is very open allowing for cross ventilation without aid of mechanical ventilation.

6. The material finishes(concrete) have smooth texture allowing for reflection of heat away from the building. The interiors also have these smooth finishes which reflect light deeper into the building. Thus, the

building is naturally lit during a normal sunny day.

7. These fenestrations are mostly placed in the North facing and South facing facades (Although the orientation is a bit skewed in one of the blocks). The West and East facing one have minimal openings.

8. Use of walls with high thermal mass of 200mm and above.Both the concrete walls and the brick walls are more than 200mm thick which assist in reducing the amount of heat getting into the building through

the wall.

9. Use of locally sourced material and local construction methods. Indian traditional brick construction has been combined with concrete in this project.

10. Use of indegenous plant material for landscaping the outdoor areas.
Project 3: Comfort Reverie

Location: Banani, Dhaka

Architects Competition Stage: Designed in 2006; Completed in 2011

Architects Design and

Marina Tabassum Architects
Implementation:

Built Area: 3907 sqm

1. Narrow plan building for natural ventilation and lighting as seen above.
2. The longer side of the building is oriented along the East- West axis.

3. Sun shading devices have been used to protect the glazing from direct sunshine. The windows in the East and West facing facades have been shaded by brick vertical and horizontal sunshades. (See Image below).

4. Openings are largely placed on North facing and South facing facades. Those in the East facing and West facing facades have additionally been tilted towards the North East and South East, and North West and

South West respectively (See Elevations above). These helps in bringing in natural light in the spaces placed along these facades but at the same time protecting the facades from direct solar heat gain.

5. Use of natural ventilation to cool the building (Stack ventilation).

6. The building has minimal window openings as seen in the typical floor plan above. The

North facing façade e.g. has little number of openings as evident in the picture below.
 7. Use of high thermal mass on walls i.e. brick walls of more than 200mm thick. MTA architects are consistent with the

use of brick in their construction, a material with high thermal mass. This is climate responsive for the climate of Dhaka

(Tropical climate)

8. Use of locally sourced materials i.e. brick.

Project 4: Alfadanga Mosque

Location: Buraich, Alfadanga, Faridpur, Bangladesh

Architects Competition Stage: Completed in 2022

Architects Design and Implementation: Marina Tabassum Architects

Built Area: 320 sqm

Faridpur still being in Bangladesh also experiences Tropical monsoon climatic conditions.
Sustainable practices in Alfadanga Mosque:

1. Narrow plan of about 20m by 20m.The hall is lit and ventilated from all four sides of the

structure.

2. The glazed openings of 900mm have been shaded from direct sunshine by being tilted at

an angle and additionally they are protected by vertical sun shading devices as shown

below.

3.Use of natural ventilation as illustrated in the

section. (Stack ventilation)

4.Minimal window openings as illustrated in

the East elevation on the right.

5. MTA uses smooth light-colored finishes in

the interior to reflect light further into the

building ensuring proper natural daylight

during the day. See Image below; white

travertine flooring finish.

6.High thermal mass on walls i.e. brick wall of

more than 200m thickness

7.Use of locally sourced materials; the brick for

the walling and travertine for the flooring.

8.Use of indigenous plants for landscaping.

Project 5: Villa Rouf

1. Narrow plan building:

The building has a

courtyard in the middle

that breaks the wide span

allowing for proper

ventilation and lighting.

2. Use of natural

ventilation; via the

Location: Faydabad, Uttara, Dhaka
central courtyard.
Architects Competition Stage: Completed in 2009
3. High thermal mass on
Architects Design and Implementation: Marina Tabassum Architects
walls; brick as a material
Built Area: 240 sqm
for construction of the

walls (more than 200mm

thick)

4. Smooth light-colored

finishes in the interior to

reflect light coming in

further into the building.

5. Use of locally sourced

materials. Brick, a

material found in plenty

6.Use of landscaping with local indigenous plant material as in Picture 1 above.

 in India is the main

material used for

construction.

References

 https://marinatabassumarchitects.com/

 https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/country/bangladesh/climate-data-historical

 https://architecture.live/bait-ur-rouf-jame-marina-tabassum-architects/

 https://the.akdn/en/how-we-work/our-agencies/aga-khan-trust-culture/akaa/bait-ur-rouf-mosque

 https://portfolio.cept.ac.in/student/prathamesh-r-vernekar-ug191055/bait-ur-rouf-mosque-through-a-lens-of-tectonics-spring-2021-ar2608-ug191055#pimg_539022

 Google Maps and Photos.