Baral Biddya Niketan: Architecture that raises conservationists
With 380 students and 23 teachers, the school got its new building in 2024 and won two prestigious awards from the American Institute of Architects for its sustainable and innovative design.
Named after the river it stands on, Baral Biddya Niketan, in Pabna district's Chalan Beel area stemmed from a larger idea.
The communities — Jelepara, or fishermen's community, and Master para, or teacher's community, referring to their higher rank — are divided by the narrowing Baral River in the middle. Although the fishermen no longer depend on the river for their livelihoods, as the dying river produces few fish nowadays, the name remains unchanged for the locals of Kumargara, Chatmohar.
Locals, including farmers and fishermen, have been fighting against the illegal encroachment of the river. They oppose structures such as embankments, sluice gates, and cross dams, which are destroying the very beel area that was once famous for its abundant fish and fertile alluvial soil.
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This endeavour evoked a deep sense of urgency to establish a centre of knowledge for future generations to evolve as nature-responsive and responsible entities.
That is how the school started its journey in 2019 and the architect activists, Iqbal Habib and Ishtiaque Zahir from Vitti Sthapati Brindo, became advocates for nature-based solutions against the devastating consequence of manmade intervention in nature and riverine systems. Thus, the idea of a 'school' was formulated — a learning centre which would celebrate nature and its settings.
Located in Kumargara village, Baral Biddya Niketan is designed to respond to its ecological and cultural context. With 380 students and 23 teachers, the school got its new building in 2024 and won two prestigious awards from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) for its sustainable and innovative architectural design.
With this recognition, the school stands as a model of how architecture can support education and environmental consciousness in rural Bangladesh.
The layout of the project
Positioned 170 metres from the Baral River, the school's layout harmonises with its surroundings.
Surrounded by mango, lychee and betel nut orchards, the courtyard and shaded areas offer a serene landscape for both play and study.
"In the past three to four years, our students have learnt how to keep the courtyard clean. You will not find even a piece of paper on the ground and not a single mango or lychee is taken. These might seem like small things, but I feel these little practices make children good human beings," said SM Mizanur Rahman, the founding director of Baral Bidya Niketan.
There is a ramp adjacent to the courtyard, which starts at just four inches height upon entry, seamlessly merging into the corridor on the first floor.
The school is on an elongated plot of 620.90 square metres and the total built-up area spans 319 square metres. There are three structures built on the northern side of the land that have a total of 10 classrooms, a library, and a computer lab.
Two single-storey blocks align with the site's boundary lines, creating an interplay between built and open spaces. These transitions facilitate passive climate control by accommodating sunlight, rainwater, and vegetation within the architectural framework. The integration of creeper plants within designated wall recesses further enhances environmental connectivity, reinforcing the school's emphasis on sustainable and contextual design.
The primary block extends 25 metres, forming two wings of single-story structures that define the courtyard. This arrangement integrates open-air learning areas within the built-up environment. The main block, stretching to the East-West, houses five classrooms on the first floor and a large open hall on the ground floor. The hall room is the most fun room on Saturdays when instead of academic studies, the students indulge in drawing, dancing, theatre, movie watching, etc.
The first-floor transitions into a wooden framework, incorporating traditional construction methods with modern engineering. Mahogany wood elements contribute to the structural integrity and provide a natural material palette aligned with the ecological context.
The mud library integrates traditional building techniques with contemporary sustainability strategies. Constructed using excavated soil from the site, the structure optimises resource utilisation and enhances thermal performance. The classrooms positioned above the mud library create a visual connection with the surrounding trees, establishing a relationship between built space and nature.
The foundation incorporates steel strata to ensure structural stability with minimal environmental impact. Steel components enhance durability while aligning with sustainable construction principles.
Bamboo drop-down screens are installed in wide openings to shield classrooms from heavy rainfall while allowing natural ventilation and daylight. Perforated brick walls on the opposite side replace conventional windows, promoting airflow and mitigating enclosure effects common in classroom settings.
The lower-level mud library employs rammed earth construction, leveraging thermal mass to regulate indoor temperatures naturally.
The selection of materials prioritises climate responsiveness and local resource utilisation.
The roof incorporates wood and clay tiles, while the walls combine mahogany wood, bamboo screens, and rammed earth, minimising carbon emissions related to transportation. Handmade tiles from Satkhira are used for flooring, supporting local craftsmanship and enhancing insulation properties. These materials contribute to thermoregulation, ensuring a stable indoor environment.
The structure also guarantees inclusion and universal accessibility by means of ramps and stairs all the way.
The background story of the school
"There were once 250-300 fishermen families here, now there are only 20-25. I started fighting for the protection of the Baral River in 2008; it has been 17 years and I am still fighting. There are hundreds of rivers in this country, who will fight for them? And after we are gone, who will fight for Baral from the next generation?" said Mizanur Rahman, who is also the member secretary of the Baral Rakkha Movement Committee.
With this thought, Mizanur and his wife Dil Afroze Begum Dolly decided to establish a school for the children of the community and sow the seeds of love for nature, for the river, for the Chalan Beel area, so that the students would grow up one day and fight for the protection of this land.
The couple donated their ancestral land of one bigha and in 2019, Baral Biddya Niketan started with 30 students in its corrugated classrooms. In 2022, Mizanur Rahman met architect Iqbal Habib at an event where he shared about his school and in December of that year, Habib decided to rebuild the school with a new design and a whole new outlook.
He designed the project with architect Ishtiaque Zahir, and in May 2023, the renovation started. The new building was inaugurated in January 2024.
"We started with 30 children and went from household to household, asking them to send their children to our school. Now Baral Biddya Niketan has 340 students, from first grade to the seventh grade. Almost 95% of the students belong to the marginalised community," Mizanur Rahman said.
"We wanted to keep the original name in English, instead of primary school, we kept the name Biddya Niketan because we feel it's time we create our identity in front of the international community," Ishtiaque Zahir said.
The school runs mostly on donations from Mizanur Rahman's and Iqbal Habib's families and friends. The founders aim to expand the campus further, eventually offering residential facilities and self-sustaining operations.
