At Optima®, we take great pride in highlighting the extraordinary achievements of women who are reshaping the architectural landscape. In our ongoing “Women in Architecture” series, we turn the spotlight to Marina Tabassum, a pioneering Bangladeshi architect whose cutting-edge projects bridge cultural heritage, environmental responsibility, and modern design. Tabassum has garnered significant acclaim around the globe for her human-centered approach, particularly following her Aga Khan Award-winning Bait Ur Rouf Mosque — and she’s poised to reach new heights with her commission to design the 2025 Serpentine Pavilion in London. Her practice offers a glimpse of how architecture can honor local contexts while embracing fresh ideas to address today’s evolving challenges.

Redefining Modern Architecture from the Global South
Born and raised in Dhaka, Tabassum founded Marina Tabassum Architects (MTA) in 2005, with the goal of creating designs that serve their communities’ immediate needs while reflecting the region’s deeper cultural identity. Through her concept of “architecture of relevance,” she focuses on local materials, passive-cooling innovations, and cultural considerations—especially vital in a place like Bangladesh, where climatic shifts and rapid urbanization exert intense pressure on built environments. Tabassum’s buildings step beyond mere aesthetics; they become dynamic, adaptable entities that resonate with their local setting.

Her success story challenges the traditional assumption that modernism is solely shaped by Western architects. As one of the few architects from the Global South, and the first from Bangladesh to gain widespread international prestige, Tabassum paves the way for a more inclusive generation of designers. She exemplifies how “modern” can also be deeply rooted in the cultural complexities and ecological realities of an emerging nation.

Bait Ur Rouf Mosque: A Triumph of Simplicity and Light
Tabassum’s most celebrated work to date is perhaps the Bait Ur Rouf Mosque in Dhaka, which earned her the 2016 Aga Khan Award for Architecture. Constructed using locally fired brick and minimalist forms, the mosque stands out for its peaceful geometry and interplay of natural light. Tabassum deliberately avoided ornamental flourishes, letting the building’s subtleties speak volumes. A rotated, cube-like form maximizes ventilation, while perforated screens and skylights fill the prayer hall with sun-dappled illumination—providing spiritual tranquility without relying on mechanical cooling or elaborate decoration.

Locals gather daily on the building’s raised plinth, an extension of its community-friendly ethos. Children can play safely above monsoon flood levels, while worshippers relish a dignified setting for prayer and reflection. This human-focused approach underscores how Tabassum’s design seamlessly integrates social well-being, a guiding principle we deeply value at Optima®.

2025 Serpentine Pavilion: A Global Stage for Sustainable Innovation
More recently, Tabassum was selected to design the 2025 Serpentine Pavilion in London—one of the world’s most prominent architectural commissions. Known for showcasing provocative, forward-thinking designs, the Serpentine Pavilion is a natural fit for an architect who believes that climate and cultural identity should be at the forefront. Tabassum plans to create a semi-open, transformable structure inspired by the South Asian Shamiyana tent, melding local craftsmanship with a modern flair for reconfigurable spaces. Her design aims to encourage communal interaction, paying homage to her homeland’s tradition of gathering around courtyards and communal platforms while employing modern materials that address environmental performance.

For Tabassum, this commission marks a triumph of inclusive design on an international platform. The resulting pavilion will not only introduce a wide audience to her innovative, climate-responsive methods, but also validate the notion that architects from the Global South can redefine our collective vision of modernism.

Charting a Vision for the Future
Marina Tabassum’s projects blend elegant geometry, local resources, and a people-first philosophy to address urgent challenges, from urban density to rising sea levels. In doing so, she leads by example: architecture that marries bold aesthetics with tangible social value.

As the 2025 Serpentine Pavilion approaches, the global spotlight on Tabassum continues to grow—affirming her status as a transformative force in contemporary design. Her story underscores how the hallmark of true modernist innovation isn’t found only in glossy skyscrapers or high-tech facades; it’s also shaped by thoughtful, locally attuned strategies that honor both human needs and environmental responsibilities. This holistic spirit is precisely what drives Optima® in our mission to create spaces where modern architecture and community well-being thrive together.