Noted Bangladeshi architect and 2021 Soane Medalist Marina Tabassum has been named as the winner of the Millennium Lifetime Achievement Award at the upcoming Lisbon Architecture Triennale 2022.

The event will begin in the Portuguese capital on September 22. Tabassum will be conferred the award at a special ceremony in Lisbon on September 30, according to architect.com.

Known for her contributions to environmentally sustainable design, Tabassum's approach to architecture breaks from commercialism to be rooted with local communities and serving the needs of common people.

With the award, she joins a list of past recipients that includes renowned architects such as Kenneth Frampton, Álvaro Siza, and Denise Scott Brown.

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Marina Tabassum: An architect in search of roots

Marina Tabassum's work "demonstrates a deep sense of commitment to the social and cultural role of architecture, with particular attention paid to building a collective sense of belonging in each new project," a jury statement said.

"Marina Tabassum's unique practice touches on the spiritual fundamentals of architecture, without losing sight of its responsibilities and potential impact," the jury also said.

Bait-ur-Rouf Mosque, designed by Marina Tabassum. Photo: Sk Enamul Haq

"Her projects demonstrate both a strong, clear ethical position and delicate, sophisticated design, being uncompromisingly innovative even with limited resources and budget constraints. Always driven by specific cultural and geographical contexts, her work addresses pressing contemporary issues, being particularly mindful of local communities and their environment and history.

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BAIT UR ROUF MOSQUE: AN AESTHETIC AND INCLUSIVE SPACE

"Marina Tabassum's bold step forward, transforming architecture's role from a passive-commission model into an active-initiative one, keeps showing us the way towards how architects can challenge the climate crisis and bring about social change in an experimental, respectful and inspiring manner," the statement added.

Inside view of Bait-ur-Rouf Mosque. Star file photo

Tabassum's work was previously honoured with the 2016 Aga Khan Award for Architecture and by the American Academy of Arts and Letters Awards in 2021.

At present, Tabassum serves as the academic director of the Bengal Institute for Architecture, Landscapes and Settlements. Previously she taught at the Harvard GSD and the University of Texas at Austin.