Learning, Unlearning: Cubeinside’s 16-year journey of architectural discovery, laid bare
The exhibition challenges how people see architecture. Buildings are often admired for their appearance alone, but Cubeinside emphasises the process — curiosity, mistakes, and careful thought
If you visit Cubeinside Design in Banani, Dhaka, you immediately feel the energy of ideas in motion; sketches cover tables, small models stand like tiny cities, and screens show digital designs — everywhere, creativity is alive.
"We started the Cubeinside journey in 2009. We're learning every day," said Khandaker Ashifuzzaman Rajon, founding partner of Cubeinside. "But there are also failures and memories from the past that teach us lessons and influence our projects — that's our unlearning."
This philosophy of learning and unlearning is at the heart of Cubeinside's new exhibition, Learning Unlearning. The three-day event, from 25 September to 27 September, shows 37 completed and ongoing projects, reflecting 16 years of exploration, experimentation and growth.
By the end of 2023, Cubeinside had planned to publish a book showcasing their work. "Then we thought we could do an exhibition like this," said Rajon.
But instead of showing only finished buildings, the exhibition shares the process behind them — the trials, mistakes and experiments that helped shape the final designs.
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"We started the Cubeinside journey in 2009. We're learning every day. But there are also failures and memories from the past that teach us lessons and influence our projects — that's our unlearning."
Visitors can see how Cubeinside's architecture is created. Models are sometimes left unfinished, sketches and notes are displayed, and ongoing projects show how designs change over time. The exhibition is not only about buildings but about the journey of creating them.
For Cubeinside, architecture is like a conversation. Every project begins by listening — to the land, the people, and the stories of the place.
One project in the exhibition, a cultural centre, shows how the building's angles follow natural airflow. Another, a residential building, balances city density with private spaces for residents. In every case, the designs mix global techniques with local culture and environment.
The exhibition also shows the risks and challenges of architecture. Some works reveal moments when ambition meets reality, or conversely, when plans need major changes. These challenges are what Rajon calls unlearning.
"Sometimes letting go of old ideas leads to better solutions," he said.
One memorable story involves a Dhaka project where delays and budget problems almost ruined the design. Instead of giving up, the team experimented with new materials and ideas. The final result was better than the original plan. This is exactly what Cubeinside means by unlearning — learning from mistakes and changing for the better.
The opening of the exhibition was a notable event.
Prominent architects and teachers delivered inaugural speeches, including Shamsul Wares, Abu Sayeed M Ahmed, Jalal Ahmed, Rafiq Azam, and Patrick D Rozario. Their presence highlighted the exhibition's importance as a platform for dialogue within Bangladesh's architectural community.
The gallery itself was buzzing with energy — young architects, students, and enthusiasts filled the space, exploring models, asking questions, and engaging in conversations about design and creativity.
Learning, Unlearning invites visitors to engage in discussion and reflection. Through studio tours, talks, and informal interactions, people see not just finished buildings but the thinking and decisions behind them. Architecture is shown as a cultural practice, responding to history, context, and human needs.
Ultimately, the exhibition challenges how people see architecture. Buildings are often admired for their appearance alone, but Cubeinside emphasises the process — curiosity, mistakes, and careful thought. Each project is not only a structure but a story of learning, trying, failing, and improving.
Visitors at the exhibition leave with a deeper understanding: Architecture is alive, evolving, and shaped by both triumphs and failures. In Rajon's words, "Through learning and unlearning, we not only shape spaces but also ourselves."
