Published: 09:58 AM, 20 April 2026
BUET team achieves global recognition in HAAD
A team from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) has achieved notable international recognition in the inaugural Heat Adaptive Architecture Design Competition (HAAD), organized by the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre in collaboration with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Global Disaster Preparedness Center.
The BUET team—comprising Mainul Hasan Seam, Jahra Jarin Jemi and Sakib Nasir Khan from the Department of Architecture—was selected among the top finalists. Another submission by Shouvaggo Sharif Shammo ,Mainul Hasan Seam and Jahra Jarin Jemi was among the three runners-up in this highly competitive global design challenge, which attracted submissions from across the world.
The project was developed under the supervision and sponsorship of Professor Dr. Khandaker Shabbir Ahmed, whose academic leadership and research direction guided the team throughout the competition process. The team also received mentorship from Dr. George Foden, Nottingham Rights Lab, as part of the competition’s structured second-stage refinement process, where shortlisted teams were paired with international experts, according to a press release.
Launched in 2025, the HAAD competition challenged architecture and urban design students globally to propose innovative, affordable, and scalable solutions to mitigate the growing risks of extreme heat—particularly for vulnerable populations such as those living in informal settlements.
Following a rigorous two-stage evaluation process, including design development under mentorship, the jury selected a limited number of outstanding proposals that demonstrated creativity, contextual relevance, and real-world applicability.
Notably, several top projects—including those based in Dhaka—addressed the pressing issue of urban heat stress in informal settlements, where high temperatures are intensified by dense built fabric, low ventilation, and heat-retaining materials such as corrugated metal sheets.
The BUET team’s proposal responded to these challenges through a context-sensitive design approach integrating passive cooling strategies, material innovation, and community-oriented spatial solutions, reflecting the climatic realities of Bangladesh and the broader Global South.
This achievement highlights BUET’s continued contribution to climate-responsive architectural research and design innovation, and reinforces its position in the global discourse on sustainable and resilient built environments.
The competition outcomes have been widely disseminated through international platforms, including professional networks and academic forums. The winning models will be 3D printed and exhibited at COP31 and other global events organized by the Climate Centre, as well as shared across the network of 191 Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies and the Global Heat Health Information Network (GHHIN).
BUET extends its congratulations to the students and acknowledges the importance of such global platforms in advancing research, collaboration, and innovation in addressing climate challenges.
