Mazharul Islam

Mazharul Islam ( _bn. মাজহারুল ইসলাম) (25 December, 1923 - ) is a pioneer of architecture in Bangladesh. Islam's style and influence dominated the architectural scene in Bangladesh in the 1960s and 70s, along with major US architects he brought to work in Dhaka. His work from the 1950s onwards not only signaled the advent of Modernism in Bangladesh (then East Pakistan), but almost overnight introduced a fresh culture of architecture in the then-contemporary scene hitherto populated by lesser examples of International style and those from the times of the British Raj. As a teacher, architect, activist and political activitist, Islam set the course of architectural practice in the country not only through his own many varied works but also through being instrumental in inviting the likes of Louis Kahn, Stanley Tigerman, and Paul Rudolf to work in Bangladesh. His major works include -Jahangirnagar University, Chittagong University, Central Public Library, Charukala Institute, the Azimpur Estate, Rangmati township, and a number of Polytechnic Institutes. He was awarded the Honorable Fellowship, American Institute of Architects at the National convention of the Institute at Dallas, Texas, U.S. in 1999. He was an honorable member of the Master Jury of the First Aga Khan Award for Architecture, Geneva, 1980.

Early life

Completing his training as an engineer , Mazharul Islam, went to study architecture at University of Oregon. He earned his Master's Degree in architecture from Yale University under the supervision of Paul Rudolph, where Stanley Tigerman was a classmate.

Career

Mazharul Islam began his career by designing two buildings in the Shahbag area in 1955 - Dhaka University Library and Institute of Arts and Crafts. [Shivangi Ambani Gandhi, [http://www.epaperindianlink.com.au/Default.aspx?Id=396F556E4948496170526C4D46726A794630434951754E6A72705336526E456746526B42323446594557343D Poetry in Architecture] , IndiaLink]

His most major work was borne when the Governor's Conference of Pakistan decided in 1959, under the leadership of President Ayub Khan, that Dhaka will be "second capital" of Pakistan.Fact|date=March 2007 It was decided to build a capital complex at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, and Mazharul Islam brought Louis Kahn into the project. Islam worked closely with him from 1965 to Kahn's death in 1973.

Along with Kahn, he also brought Paul Rudolph and Stanley Tigerman to work in Bangladesh, and three of them came to be known as the "American Trio". Apart from the "Trio", it was Islam's monumental style that dominated Bangladesh architecture from 1950s onwards.Fact|date=July 2007

Islam also created the logo for the government of Bangladesh. [ [http://www.brandsoftheworld.com/countries/bd/108153.html Government of the people's republic of Bangladesh] , Brands of the World]

Notable works

ources

* [http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2005/10/03/achievement.htm The Daily Star:A Modern Bangali Architect]
* [http://www.thedailystar.net/2003/07/20/d30720870187.htm The Daily Star: Harmony of Vision]

References

Academic papers on Islam

*Wares, Shamsul, "Architecture in the 50s and 60s in Bangladesh", Architecture and Planning, BUET, 1982, Dhaka
*Kazi Khaleed Ashraf, "Mazharul Islam, Kahn and Architecture in Bangladesh", 1989

External links

* [http://www.muzharulislam.com/ Official Site]
* [http://archnet.org/library/documents/one-document.tcl?document_id=4676 Ashraf, Kazi Khaleed, "Mazharul Islam, Kahn and Architecture in Bangladesh", MIMAR 31, 1989] : Downloadble pdf file
* [http://www.thedailystar.net/2005/08/12/d50812140399.htm Daily Star: The documentary on Mazharul Islam]
* [http://www.archsociety.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.21 ArchSociety Article: Muzharul Islam: Pioneer of Modern Architecture in Bangladesh]