A team from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) has secured international recognition in the inaugural Heat Adaptive Architecture Design Competition (HAAD), organised by the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Global Disaster Preparedness Centre.
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.
A separate submission by Shouvaggo Sharif Shammo, Mainul Hasan Seam and Jahra Jarin Jemi were named among the three runners-up in the global design challenge, which drew entries from across the world.
The projects were developed under the supervision and sponsorship of BUET Department of Architecture Professor Khandaker Shabbir Ahmed.
The team also received mentorship from Nottingham Rights Lab Dr George Foden during the competition’s second-stage refinement process, where shortlisted participants were paired with international experts.
Launched in 2025, the HAAD competition invited architecture and urban design students to propose innovative, affordable and scalable solutions to mitigate the risks of extreme heat, particularly for vulnerable populations in informal settlements.
Following a two-stage evaluation process that included mentored design development, the jury selected a limited number of proposals based on creativity, contextual relevance and real-world applicability.
Several leading entries, including those focused on Dhaka, addressed urban heat stress in informal settlements, where high temperatures are intensified by dense construction, poor ventilation and heat-retaining materials such as corrugated metal sheets.
The BUET team’s proposal tackled these challenges through a context-sensitive approach that integrates passive cooling strategies, material innovation and community-oriented spatial design, reflecting climatic conditions in Bangladesh and across the Global South.
The recognition underscores BUET’s role in advancing climate-responsive architectural research and sustainable design innovation.
Competition outcomes have been shared across international platforms, including academic forums and professional networks.
Selected winning models will be 3D printed and exhibited at COP31 and other global events organised by the Climate Centre and distributed across 191 Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies and the Global Heat Health Information Network (GHHIN).
BUET said the achievement highlights the importance of global collaboration and research-driven solutions in addressing climate challenges.
