Third Place Winner
Roots of Knowledge: A Sustainable School for Tea Workers’ Children
Design by
Gull-E-Nurjahan Surma, Md. Sazid Bin Alam, Md. Shaban Mahamud & Farzana Aziz
Jury Critique
This project thoughtfully responds to the educational and environmental needs of a marginalized community. Its use of traditional materials and passive systems creates a culturally rooted, climatically adaptive learning environment. Strong spatial logic and clear social intent make this a compelling, contextually rich model for sustainable rural schools.
-Zhaoxiong Han
A thorough and comprehensive study and design—commendable and deserving of encouragement. The proposal shows strong contextual and cultural sensitivity, combining vernacular techniques with passive sustainability strategies. Its thoughtful spatial organization and clear implementation logic make it a socially impactful and highly feasible solution.
-Xinyue Geng
good drawings to communicate the concept, nice material selection
-Ziyang Xu
Gull-E-Nurjahan Surma, Md. Sazid Bin Alam, Md. Shaban Mahamud & Farzana Aziz
Gull-E-Nurjahan Surma
A fourth-year architecture student at BUET, Gull-E-Nurjahan focuses on socially responsive design rooted in sustainability and local resilience. She has been a national finalist in the AYDA Awards 2024 and a winner of the National AI Art-a-thon 2025. She co-founded Drag Dot, a 3D visualization studio, and works as a Level 2 Seller on Fiverr, serving global clients.
Sazid Bin Alam
Currently studying architecture at BUET, Sazid specializes in function-focused design, emphasizing spatial usability and structure. He confidently uses tools like Rhino, Revit, Lumion, and Photoshop to deliver practical and visually refined architectural solutions.
Md. Shaban Mahamud
An architecture student at BUET, Shaban is passionate about turning design ideas into immersive visual experiences. He excels in photorealistic rendering, conceptual modeling, and master planning using tools such as AutoCAD, Rhino, Revit, and Twinmotion.
Farzana Aziz
A fourth-year architecture student at BUET, Farzana is dedicated to sustainable, affordable design using local materials. She explores architecture through sketching, modeling, and rendering with tools like SketchUp, Rhino, and Lumion to create context-driven, meaningful designs.
Celebrating Creativity & Vision
Winner’s Spotlight: An Exclusive Interview
Discover the story behind the victory — from concept to creation.
Please introduce yourself and briefly describe your background in architecture or design.
We are a team of four undergraduate students currently in our fourth year of the Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) program at BUET. Over the course of our academic journey, we have worked on a range of projects that address both urban and rural challenges, with a strong focus on sustainability, cultural relevance, and community engagement.
How did you select your rural site, and what role did its geographical and climatic conditions play in shaping your design?
We selected the Malnicherra Tea Estate in Sylhet, one of Bangladesh's oldest and most prominent tea gardens, where workers' children face limited access to education. The region’s hot, humid climate and monsoon rains informed our use of passive cooling strategies, shaded circulation, and rainwater harvesting. Climatic responsiveness was at the core of our spatial and material decisions.
In what ways does your school design promote sustainability and environmental stewardship within the rural context?
The school uses passive cooling strategies, locally available natural materials, and renewable energy sources. Compressed earth bricks, bamboo, and woven mats reduce embodied carbon and support local craftsmanship. The double-roof ventilation system minimizes the need for mechanical cooling. Solar panels generate electricity, and the sloped roof collects rainwater for reuse, teaching students and the community to live in harmony with their environment.
How did you integrate local culture, materials, or traditions into your architectural concept?
The design draws from the vernacular architecture of rural Bangladesh. The lower roof layer is inspired by the traditional Ikra wall system ( a familiar local technology for light weight wall material), reinterpreted for better insulation and airflow. Locally sourced bamboo and earth bricks connect the school to the region’s building practices, while communal spaces reflect the community-centered lifestyle of tea worker settlements.
What challenges did you face while balancing functionality, sustainability, and contextual integration—and how did you overcome them?
The main challenge was to create a school that serves modern educational needs while remaining affordable, climate-adaptive, and culturally grounded. To balance these, I used passive design to cut energy costs, and chose materials that are both durable and familiar to local builders. The double-layered roofing system is a key example where sustainability and comfort meet contextual logic.
How do your outdoor learning spaces enhance the educational experience in a rural setting?
The central field, open terrace, and semi-open multipurpose hall act as extensions of the classroom, promoting informal learning, interaction, and connection with nature. These spaces encourage group activities, storytelling, and cultural programs, making learning more holistic and rooted in the natural rhythm of rural life. They also help reduce classroom density and offer a healthier alternative to closed indoor environments.
What sustainable systems (e.g., rainwater harvesting, energy generation, waste management) did you include, and how are they adapted to your site?
I included a rainwater harvesting system that takes advantage of the sloped roof, collecting water for use in sanitation and gardening. Solar panels on the upper roof meet part of the school's electricity needs. Waste management was considered through composting organic waste for use in garden beds. These systems were chosen for their simplicity, low maintenance, and compatibility with local skills and resources.
What impact do you hope your design will have on rural education and community life, if it were to be realized in the real world?
I hope this school will become more than just a place for formal education, it should be a community hub that nurtures pride, environmental responsibility, and social empowerment. By offering a safe, inspiring, and sustainable learning environment, the design aims to reduce dropout rates, engage families in educational growth, and showcase how architecture can improve both learning outcomes and community well-being.
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