Day: October 22, 2025
Prof Rafiq Azam to Headline DNA Paris Design Awards 2025
Prominent Bangladeshi architect Professor Rafiq Azam is all set to join the 2025 edition of the DNA Paris Design Awards—one of the most important design awards worldwide—as a keynote speaker. The internationally renowned architect, born in Old Dhaka, Bangladesh, is scheduled to participate in the show beginning on October 24 this year. He is widely recognised for his unique approach to green architecture, which weaves together tradition, nature and mysticism. Rafiq Azam, founder of SHATOTTO—an architecture firm dedicated to green living—draws inspiration from Bengali poets and mystics, while incorporating artistic influences from global masters. His designs place particular emphasis on light, shadow, water and air. With more than 30 years of experience, Professor Azam has received a number of international accolades, including the 2025 ULI Asia Pacific Awards for Excellence, the CAA Robert Mathew Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022, the ARCASIA Gold Medal, the LEAF Awards, and the UIA & UN-HABITAT Awards in 2022. His work and perspectives have appeared in leading publications such as TIME Magazine, The New York Times and CASA Vogue. As a visiting professor at BRAC University, Professor Azam supports emerging architects through the Rafiq Azam Travel Bursary programme. The DNA Paris Design Awards, where the renowned Bangladeshi architect will deliver a keynote speech, celebrate the best in global design from over 70 countries. The annual awards recognise excellence in Architecture, Landscape, Interior, Product and Graphic Design, with entries divided into ‘Professional’ and ‘Emerging’ categories. The latter is reserved for outstanding student work. The DNA Paris Design Awards are organised by the Farmani Group, a global authority in architecture, design and photography curation, in partnership with In Between, a Paris-based collective of creatives and thinkers. In addition to typology-based subcategories, the most distinguished entries across all five disciplines and both sections are awarded the Grand Prix—the highest honour of the programme. Recipients of the Grand Prix receive a trophy created by Studio Briand & Berthereau, designed to strike a balance between form and function, while addressing the financial and environmental constraints faced by every project. All submissions are evaluated by an expert jury of design luminaries. The jury committee is comprised of designers, editors and creatives who are devoted to true excellence in design. The juries come from different countries, including the UK, the USA, Spain, Argentina, Japan, Sweden, France, Kenya, Thailand, Brazil, Italy, South Korea, Hong Kong, Mexico, Greece and Saudi Arabia. The evaluation of entries is based on a range of criteria that are constantly adapted to current standards. The 2025 edition’s project submission early bird deadline began on December 13, 2024, while the regular deadline ended on May 9 this year. However, the late final deadline was extended until May 23 of the current year. The entry fee for professional project submissions in the architecture, interior, landscape and product categories was 350 British pounds, while it was 100 British pounds for the graphic category. For students, the entry fee for every category was set at 75 British pounds. DNA Paris has already announced the winners for this year, who will be honoured at an event in Paris on October 24. This year, Bait Ur Rayyan—a project by Cubeinside Design Limited, a Bangladeshi architecture firm—has emerged as one of the winners of the DNA Paris Design Awards in the Public Architecture category. On the DNA Paris website, Khandaker Ashifuzzaman and Shakhawat Hossain Rocky are listed as the lead designers of Bait Ur Rayyan, with Mehri Farnaz, Anis Khan Shanto and Abdullah Al Jaber named as members of the design team. Written by Nibir Ayaan
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