Name of Person : Md. Ishtiaque Zahir
Designation & Organization : Managing Director, Vitti Sthapati Brindo Ltd.
Date of Birth : 20th August 1965
Nationality : Bangladeshi
Education : M.Sc. in Architecture (Computing & design), University of East London, UK in 1998
Bachelor of Architecture from Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology (BUET) in the year 1991.
Membership in Professional Societies : MIAB, Member of Institute of Architects, Bangladesh. Hon. FAIA, Honorary Fellow of American Institute of Architects.

Name of Person : Md. Iqbal Habib
Designation & Organization : Architect Director, Vitti Sthapati Brindo Ltd.
Date of Birth : 1 January 1963
Nationality : Bangladeshi
Education : Bachelor of Architecture from Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology (BUET) in the year 1991.
Membership in Professional Societies: Ex Joint Secretary & presently Member of Institute of Architects, Bangladesh (IAB)
 Member-Secretary of Urbanization & City Governance Committee and
 Executive Member of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA).

Salient Features of the Project

Name & Location : Banani Graveyard and Mosque Design, Banani, Dhaka.
cost of Project : (US$) 564 Thousand USD
Built-up area : 2130 SQM
(In case of Public Building minimum built-up area should be 1000 sq. meter)

Description of Project :

Located at Banani, the Banani Graveyard and Mosque have a significant background as it tis the final resting place of the three leaders of Bangladesh. Family members of the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and many other significant intellectuals of the country. The design philosophy for the pro•ect was to remove the stigma associated with grave- yards and to re-estab iSh it as a place where people can feel connected to both the tangible and intangible aspects of life and death. The mosque, office, and other supporting facilities were designed in a way to merge and blend with the landscape of the graveyard. To enhance the design, carefully crafted de- tails were integrated throughout the project

To further complement the design, purity of material expiration was pre- served by means of material honesty and clarity. Fair face concreate were used for the mosque and boundary walls were complemented by the warm feeling of wooden texture used for the louvers and screens.

Programme for the redesign includes two components.
Masterplan
1. Landscape
Walkway, Shade, Lighting, Sitting, Boundary wall, Drainage (partial), Vertical garden

2. Gatehouse
Entry gate, Mosque (70 pers.), Information room, Waiting room, Office, Mortuary (Janazah washing area), Ablution area, Toilet Facilities

Materials of Construction Details :

Minimalistic approach with detailed design was the basis for the rede- sign of the Banani Graveyard and Mosque. Materials such as concrete, wood,natural stone, and metal were used throughout the project. Islamic patterns made of concrete and metal were used in designing the gate, window screens and dome. Metal frame and poly carbonate sheet was used to lighten the tra-ditionally, heavy symbolic dome of a mosque.

Landscaping was based to keep the graveyard a place of spirituality and har-mony. Sitting areas plays an important key roll and are carefully placed on the nodes of the aisles. These contemplation spaces have an immense effect on the intangible spaces and the overall services of graveyards. Green creepers were designed along with sitting areas throughout the graveyard integrated into the landscape.

Diffused artificial lighting was provided throughout the landscape, highlighting focal points, and to ensure adequate lighting for evening visitors. The walkway within the graveyard was made of local clay brick and green kota stone while Black kota stone is used for walkway of the significant zones for the family members of Bangabandhu’ family and the three leader’s grave. Shading was designed with fair face column, wood and metal pergola with polycarbonate sheet on the significant zone pathway of the graveyard. The outside walkway is made with far face block and white stone.

Special Features :

The major special feature of the project is the main gate house, which houses the mosque, office, mortuary, and other supporting facility for the graveyard under one datum. The gate house structure was designed in a linear so that the structure blend and merges with the surrounding nature. Ad- ditionally, the structure was made to feel light and open by the use of full height glass windows, giving a sense of transparency and openness.

Another feature is the boundary wall. The boundary wall was designed to con-trast the traditional way graveyard boundary walls are designed. The bound-ary was transformed in to a work of calligraphy inspired from the Arabic word for “Allah”. Detail attention were given to the material, texture and lighting of the boundary wall. The boundary wall is lined with plants like kolaboti (canna indica) and katamehedi (duranta repens) which gives colour to the monochrome wall and is a highlight of the design that merges the wall with the landscape.