Renowned Bangladeshi architect, filmmaker, photographer, lyricist, composer, writer and System Architects’ chief Enamul Karim Nirjhar has won the Gold Medal in the 'Single Family Residential Project' category at the prestigious Arcasia Awards for Architecture 2025, held in South Korea.
Nirjhar received the honour for his architectural project 'Chabi' - a residential house designed near Birabo Bazar in Rupganj upazila of Narayanganj, beside the Shitalakshya River. The award was conferred during the Asian Congress of Architects, held from September 7 to 14 in Incheon, South Korea.
Spanning 3.9 bighas of land, 'Chabi' has been described as an alternative home for a single family, blending nature, light, air, and modern architecture into a harmonious and aesthetic form.
Speaking about the project, Nirjhar said, “This project is essentially a new initiative of exploring mental and humane architectural practice, where space, emotion, nature and context have been brought into an equation. This innovative initiative may influence the future generations of architectural observers.”
He added that the recognition is not only his personal achievement but also a great honour for Bangladesh’s architecture on the global stage.
Nirjhar also expressed gratitude to the client of 'Chabi', ATM Mahbubul Alam Chowdhury, saying, “It was possible to build a house that is life-centric and different from conventional homes because the client gave me complete freedom."
Alongside architectural design, Nirjhar follows a process that prioritises complete construction under the direct supervision of the architect. His notable works in Bangladesh include the headquarters of British American Tobacco, Ninakabya, and Fera.
Recently, he has been involved in various initiatives to celebrate Bangladesh’s golden jubilee of independence through architecture, music, film and cultural engagements.
In continuation of this vision, he also directed a feature film titled 'Banan' during the final phase of building 'Chabi', where audiences will witness the architectural piece itself as part of the cinematic experience.