FORM.3 Architects and their team have been honoured with a regional award in the Asia Pacific category at the Holcim Foundation Awards 2025. The firm received the prestigious recognition for their project, “Conservation of Old Dhaka Central Jail History, Historical Buildings & Development of Surroundings Area.”
The project reimagines a historic jail site in Old Dhaka as a vibrant public realm, merging adaptive reuse, passive design, and local craftsmanship to create a culturally rooted and economically viable model for sustainable urban renewal.
The Old Dhaka jail was built on 36.76 acres of land in the eighteenth century. According to the website of the prison authority, a “criminal ward” was established in Dhaka in 1788. Later, the prison was constructed on Nazimuddin Road, becoming one of the largest jails in the country.
The main goal of the project, for which FORM.3 Architects and their team received recognition, was to create a cultural centre that provides much-needed open space for community gatherings within the dense urban fabric of Old Dhaka.
Design plans include preserving existing historic buildings and structures while integrating them with new developments.
The project also aims to address key urban challenges such as traffic congestion and limited accessibility. Proposed interventions include widening peripheral roads, developing underground pedestrian passages, and introducing specific vehicular zones to streamline movement around the Chawkbazar area.
The Holcim Foundation Awards are the world’s most significant competition celebrating sustainable design and construction—spotlighting projects that are reshaping the built environment and driving transformation across the construction sector.
Founded in 2003, the Holcim Foundation has led the global movement for sustainable design and construction, guiding the building industry with visionary initiatives.
“This year’s 20 winners use the right materials in the right places, bring communities into the process from day one, and design with nature as an ally. The projects are inspiring because the solutions they offer are replicable and implementable—they set a credible path forward for the industry,” says Laura Viscovich, Executive Director of the Holcim Foundation.
The Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction has announced 20 winning projects for the 2025 Holcim Foundation Awards, spanning Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, and North America, with a total prize pool of USD 1 million.
An event will be held in Venice on November 20, 2025, to showcase all the winners, accompanied by a global live stream for audiences worldwide.
Photo Courtesy: FORM.3 Architects
Written by CBM desk
