"Architecture is the most adventurous journey that suits my kind."
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Fascinated by the design of makeshift shelters in Robinson Crusoe as a child, Rifat grew up immersed in both art and STEM before dedicating herself to architecture. She earned a Bachelor of Architecture from North South University, Dhaka, in 2012, later pursuing unorthodox training at the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) in 2015–2016. Influenced by Louis Kahn’s monumentality, Peter Zumthor’s minimalism, and Uttam Saha’s unpretentious approach, she prioritizes sensibility over convention in design.
Rifat challenges architectural standards—questioning dimensions like the typical 5×4 window—and seeks solutions that balance light, wind, shading, privacy, and comfort seamlessly.
“Who needs standard sizes when you can customize, or even tear down an entire wall to create something more meaningful?”
Her curiosity extends beyond materials—she questions assumptions in transparency, nature, and perception:
“Glass promises clarity, yet it blocks 60% of photons. How do we design with integrity, knowing that what we perceive as transparent is inherently opaque?”
Having completed her Master of Architecture at the University of Waterloo in 2024, Rifat is deepening her architectural practice with a focus on adaptive reuse and carbon-conscious design. She integrates indigenous knowledge with global perspectives, crafting contemporary designs that are both culturally sensitive and socially responsible.​​​​
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publication:
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https://uwspace.uwaterloo.ca/handle/10012/20280​​​
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exhibition:
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Robotic Clay, Material Syntax Artifact project exhibited at the Glass and Clay Museum, Canada, 2023
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"affordable housing" - competition entry project was exhibited at Iab, DHAKA, 2019
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M.arch 2gbx - public appearance project was exhibited at SCI-Arc "spring show", Los Angeles, 2016
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Participant of Inter-University photography exhibition curated by NSU Canvas Club, Dhaka, BD, 2014
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b.arch thesis - school of architecture project was exhibited at
national museum of Bangladesh, 2013
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Portfolio archive:
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https://issuu.com/rifataraislam/docs/portfolio_2024
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https://archinect.com/people/cover/150202631/rifat-ara-islam
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https://issuu.com/rifataraislam/docs/6_9_2018_rai_a
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https://vimeo.com/manage/421888137/general
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https://vimeo.com/manage/421887049/general
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https://issuu.com/rifataraislam/docs/islam_rifat_portfolio_march
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https://issuu.com/rifataraislam/docs/binder
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