Sayedul Hasan Rana: Simplistic and green

Sayedul Hasan Rana is a well-known architect, and is noted for his remarkable environment friendly structures. 

His awe-inspiring work peeps through the natural ambiance, merges with the surroundings, capturing the wild landscape of nature.  

Sayedul says that the most exciting thing to him is the Architects Design Studio. His life through developing the studio, working in creative architecture and design is a dream come true. 

After graduating, he has worked in a number of private practices on a broad range of projects in and around Singapore and Bangladesh, emphasising environment and sustainability. Other things he focuses on while developing projects are low cost and civic urban designs.

He said, "After working in Singapore for 12 years, I have returned for the love of country. I must mention, typical mechanical and non-environment friendly architectural practice in Singapore taught me to think about the environment and work by considering environmental issues."

Some of his more specific interests are in the areas of sustainable design, and a strong integration of site and landscape considerations. He is also passionate about creating spaces and places that promote creativity for places like schools, libraries, auditoriums, public complexes, religious and charitable organisations.

Sayedul's decision to return to Bangladesh has turned out to be beneficial, as it gives him the chance to work closely with different environment-friendly projects such as Zinda Park complex. 

He said there is no difference between commercial and residential architecture. "Such differentiation can actually limit our horizon to think differently. Going beyond the grammar of commercial and residential architecture would allow us to focus on sustainable designs."  

Structures in Zinda Park are environment-friendly. Light and air in right proportions can enter the library, school and every other building in the park. 

"Most of our buildings, be they for residential or official purposes, do not really promote a healthy lifestyle. While designing a building, architects have to consider every element of the eco system – from a bug to human."

"Whatever we know as green architecture does not really complement the outcome we see nowadays. After making a glass building, we put very few plants in it, and try to call it 'green architecture'. The building, however, has to look like an element of nature with natural light and air. It would become green architecture considering the environment-friendly construction material."

Extremely modest, eloquent and with his characteristic patience, Sayedul shares his Zen-like wisdom with us.