Biography: Architect Rafiq Azam/Shatotto

Muhammad Rafiq Azam (Bengali: রফিক আযম), is an contemporary architect from Bangladesh. He and his firm, Shatotto, specialize in modern architectural aesthetics inspired by the lush, riverine landscape of the Bengal delta, and the ancient architectural heritage of the region.

Shatotto intends to unearth the lost history and heritage of Bengal and recreate the missing link of its urban and rural culture. Shatotto also tries to bridge the gaps between architectural values and the current crisis of a responsible architecture, in order to generate conversation among people, communities and nature for a healthy society.

Personal Information:-
Internationally acclaimed architect Md. Rafiq Azam, Principal Architect, SHATOTTO architecture for green living. Soon after his graduation (B. Arch.) from the Department of Architecture, the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) in 1989 started practice with the STHAPOTIK-architects, engineers & planners as a partner where he served until April 1995. Since May 1995, he has been operating his own firm. He taught and is teaching for last 12 years as visiting faculty in the department of Architecture, The National University of Singapore. NED University of Pakistan, At home, North South university, University of Asia Pacific, Ahsanullah University of Science & Technology, Brac University Dhaka and worked as a Research Associate, Conservation Study of Old Dhaka-its Historical Buildings and Areas, Dept. of Architecture, BUET, Dhaka between 1991 and 1994. Azam has accumulated a number of achievements in architecture and painting.

Awards in Architecture:
2012: winner LEAF Award 2012
2012: winner, world architecture community award
2012: Winner 20th AYA (Architect of the Year Award) by J.K. Cement
2009: Winner “Cityscape Architecture Award”
2009: Highly Commended “Cityscape Architecture Award”
2009: Highly Commended “Cityscape Architecture Award”
2009: Short listed “World Architecture Festival (WAF) Award”.
2009: Short listed “Leading European Architects Forum (LEAF) Award”
2009: Winner, 5th cycle, World Architecture Community Award.
2008: Winner, 2nd cycle (most thought provoking project), World Architecture Community Award.
2008: Citation, 3rd cycle, World Architecture Community Award.
2008: Selected as “One of the exceptionally Talented Architects of the world under age of 50” by Urban Land Magazine, USA
2008: Winner, 1st cycle, World Architecture Community Award.
2008: Selected as one of the future National Heroes of Bangladesh by “New Age” Daily News Paper.
2007: AR Awards for Emerging Architecture 2007, Best & biggest awards for young architects in the world.
2007: Short-listed among the 27 finalists for the Aga Khan Award for Architecture (AKAA) 2007.
2007: Berger Award for Excellence in Architecture 2007
2007: The 2007 Kenneth F. Brown, Asia Pacific Culture & Architecture Design Award. USA.
2007: The South Asian Architecture Commendation Award-2005.
2005: Selected one of the 25 power players of Bangladesh by “ICE TODAY” a leading magazine of Bangladesh
2005: The South Asian Architecture Commendation Award-2003.
2004: Cityscape Architectural Review Commendation Award.
2004: Short-listed among the 23 finalists for the Aga Khan Award for Architecture (AKAA) 2004.
2004: Nomination for “AKAA 2004” award for the project “Mahmood Residence” at Uttara, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
2004: Attended the “Glenn Murcutt Master Class-2004” in Australia.
2000: “Young Architect’s Award-1999” in the South Asian Architecture Award.
1999: “The South Asian Architecture Commendation Award-1997”.
1996: “IAB Design Award 1996” awarded by the Institute of Architects Bangladesh
1992: Nominee for the “AAKA-1992” for the project Azam Residence in Lalbagh, Old Dhaka.
1991: Winner, Mimar International Design Competition- VII, London.

Awards in Painting:-
1981: Certificate of Diploma from the International Competition for Young Artists, USSR.
1978: "Shaheed Smriti Award" for the contribution in the field of Art in Bangladesh.
1978: "Silver medal" from Shankar's International Children’s competition, India
1977: "Bronze medal" from Shankar’s International Children’s' Competition, India.
1977: First prize in the "National Children’s' Television Award (NOTUN KURI)," Bangladesh.
1976: "Jawaharlal Nehru memorial gold medal" from Shankar's International Children's Competition India.

Lectures:-
• invited speaker " Commonwealth association of Architects conference" Sri lanka 2010.
• invited speaker " Asian Architects conference (ACA-14)" Pakistan 2010.
• key speaker " Indian Institute of Architects conference, Kerala Chapter" 2010.
• invited speaker " Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM)" 2010.

• invited speaker " Institute of Architects Pakistan, Comsets, NCA, Islamabadr 2010.
• Key note speaker “Asian Metro City Summit ” Kuala Lumpur,2010
• Key note speaker “My Tropical Architecture” for Kuala Lumpur vision 2020,
• Project presentation, World architecture Festival Award, Spain 2009.
• Invited speaker Royal Australian Institute of Architects, Sydney, Australia, 2008
• Reggio Calabria University, Italy.2008
• The National University of Singapore,2008
• Key speaker, young architect’s festival, India.2007
• Key note speaker, Annual Conference of IAP, Karachi, Pakistan, 2007
• National College of Arts (NCA) Lahore, Pakistan,2007
• The University of Hawaii, Manoa, U.S.A, 2006
• The Catholic University of America,WDC, U.S.A2006
• Key note speaker, Datum: KL 2006, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
• The University of Malaysia,2006
• The University of Technology Malaysia (UTM) 2010
• SAARCH Conference, Dhaka.2006
• Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka,2008
• Jadavpur University Kolkata 2007, 2010

Publications and Media Coverage:-
Projects published in Architectural Review (AR) & AD magazine from London, Toronto Star from Canada, Ananda Bazaar from Kolkata, D+A Singapore, Indian Architect and Builder, Architecture Asia magazine Malaysia, Design for Housing Magazine from Italy, Urban land magazine, USA, Architecture plus, UAE, ADA and Regional planning magazine from Pakistan and other national and international magazines, including journals & interviews covered by New Strait Times and The Star from Malaysia, Karachi Times, Pakistan, Daily star Bangladesh, N-tv, ATN bangla, Channel-1, Financial Times London etc. and dedicated a whole Issue of “NIRMAN” an architectural magazine published from Kolkata in 2008.Hindu Times, Sunday Times India).

Exhibitions:-
2009: Two Men Show at Gallery Hittite, Yorkvill art district Toronto, Canada
2008: “Nature is” a solo exhibition at Bengal Gallery, Dhaka.
2008: Architectural Excellence in Bangladesh, RAIA exhibition in Sydney, Australia.
2007: AR Emerging Architecture Exhibition at the RIBA, London, Korea and Germany
2005: UIA2005, Architectural exhibition in Istanbul
2005: Kenneth Brown World wide Travel Exhibition.
1999: Solo Exhibition “ArTchitecture” in Drik Gallery, Dhaka.
1998: Solo Exhibition “ArTchitecture” in New York, U.S.A.
1995: Solo Painting Exhibition, Nepal.
1995: 8th ARCASIA Forum Architectural Exhibition, Singapore.
1994: Tenth National Young Artists Exhibition, Dhaka.
1993: 6th Asian Art Biennial, Bangladesh.
1986: 3rd Asian Art Biennial, Bangladesh.
1985: 7th National Exhibition Bangladesh.

Professional Membership:-
Member, Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB)
Member AOTS

Works And Projects:-

1.Mamun Residence

2.SA Residence

3.Karim Residence

4.Meghna Residence

5.Alif Breeze

6.South Water Garden

7.Anbis

8.SP Setia Corporate Headquarters

9.South Water Caress

10.Rokia Afzal Vacation House

11.South 50/53

12.SA Family Graveyard

13.Bhuiyan Bari And Many More...