6 days ago
Dhaka builds for a wetter future
With nearly 20% of its landmass expected to be underwater by mid-century, Bangladesh is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries on Earth. But new buildings and public spaces across the capital city of Dhaka are (sometimes literally) rising to meet the challenges of a hotter, wetter future. Brac University's new campus, seen here, opened in central Dhaka in 2024 Photograph: Anik Rahman/Guardian
Coined the 'floating university', Brac sits atop a bio-retention pond, which captures and treats storm runoff Photograph: Anik Rahman/Guardian
The campus's lush lower levels are integrated with surrounded neighborhoods to offer cool public gathering spaces Photograph: Anik Rahman/Guardian
Planted facades and passive design reduce the buildings' cooling needs, with green surfaces adding up to nearly 127% of the site area Photograph: Anik Rahman/Guardian
Solar panels on Brac's upper gardens produce electricity and provide rooftop shade. Photograph: Anik Rahman/Guardian
Designed by the Singapore-based firm Woha, the 13-story campus has received accolades for its regenerative plans Photograph: Anik Rahman/Guardian
The university, first opened in 2001 on another site, has nearly 20,000 students Photograph: Anik Rahman/Guardian
The design firm of local architect Rafiq Azam has designed some 20 climate-resilient parks across Dhaka, such as the Gulshan Society Kids Zone Photograph: Anik Rahman/Guardian
Like Brac University, many of Azam's parks and playgrounds sit atop trenches that collect and store rainwater, which is then filtered and pumped to community taps Photograph: Anik Rahman/Guardian
Gulshan Society Kids Zone Park sits within the larger Gulshan Society Lake Park Photograph: Anik Rahman/Guardian
On the north-western outskirts of Dhaka, the Zebun Nessa mosque offers a cool respite for the area's garment workers Photograph: Anik Rahman/Guardian
Designed by Dhaka-based Studio Morphogenesis, the structures are elevated to deter overflow from monsoons Photograph: Anik Rahman/Guardian
The mosque's perforated walls provide ventilation to keep the building's interior cool. The soft pink color was created by mixing pink pigments into the concrete Photograph: Anik Rahman/Guardian
Greenery, which contrasts with the mosque's industrial surroundings, helps to cool the space and absorb rainwater Photograph: Anik Rahman/Guardian
Wong Mun Summ, lead architect of the new Brac University campus, has said he hopes the building's climate-smart design will be 'replicated and scaled up' in other cities around the globe
Photograph: Anik Rahman/Guardian
