OASE Journal for Architecture - 119 Rationalism Revisited

Editors: Justin Agyin, Bart Decroos and Christoph Grafe
Design: Karel Martens and Aagje Martens
January 2025. ISBN: 978-94-6208-897-9
Publisher’s page: https://oasejournal.nl/en/issue/oase-119/

Embracing Impermanence

A Conversation with Marina Tabassum, Sadia Rahman and Priyanka Hutschenreiter

Abstract

Marina Tabassum, principal architect at Marina Tabassum Architects (MTA) in Dhaka, Bangladesh, is creating an architectural practice oriented towards the sustainable future of people and climate. While architectural rationalism is often construed in terms of the use of industrial materials and large scale in order to be adaptable, MTA understand sustainability and adaptability in terms of using local materials and practices. In this double-conversation, with Marina Tabassum and with the editors of this issue of OASE, we explore the tensions incurred through these differing approaches to rationalism between the needs of governments, the construction industry, local residents, and architects themselves.