Marina Tabassum is a Bangladeshi architect and educator who founded Marina Tabassum Architects (MTA) in Dhaka in 2005. Her architectural philosophy focuses on creating contemporary designs deeply rooted in ecological, cultural, historical, and climatic contexts. Tabassum’s work emphasises sustainability and a strong connection to place, seeking what she calls “Architecture of Relevance”.

One of her most acclaimed projects, the Bait Ur Rouf Mosque, was recognised by The New York Times as one of the “25 Most Significant Works of Postwar Architecture” worldwide. She was awarded the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2016 for this project. Moreover, she designed the 2025 Serpentine Pavilion. Another notable work is the Independence Museum and Monument of Bangladesh, designed in 1997. In addition to her architectural practice, Tabassum is an educator, currently serving as a professor at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. She has taught as a visiting professor at several leading universities, including Yale, Harvard GSD, University of Toronto, University of Texas, and BRAC University. She was also the academic director of the Bengal Institute from 2015 to 2021.

Tabassum is active in social causes, chairing Prokritee, a fair-trade organisation supporting over 5,000 women artisans in Bangladesh. She also established the Foundation for Architecture and Community Equity (FACE). Recognised internationally, she has received awards such as the Soane Medal (UK) and the French Academy of Architecture Gold Medal.

Website:

https://marinatabassumarchitects.com