UNOPS, RAJUK announce results of design competition

Innovative ideas from young architects and urban designers took centre stage as the winners of the “Carbon Conscious Urban Design Idea Competition 2026” were announced, showcasing how the next generation envisions a greener, more resilient and climate-responsive future for Dhaka.

The competition was organised under the Transforming the Built Environment through Sustainable Materials in Bangladesh project, jointly implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), UN-Habitat, and Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK), said a press release.

The competition was held in coordination with the Ministry of Housing and Public Works (MoHPW) and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Designed to inspire innovative solutions for sustainable urban development, the competition invited university students from across Bangladesh to rethink public spaces through climate-conscious design.

Participants developed proposals that integrated ecological restoration, biodiversity conservation, low-carbon materials, water-sensitive urban design, and inclusive public spaces to address the growing environmental challenges facing Dhaka.

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A total of 36 design proposals from 12 universities were evaluated through a rigorous jury process comprising distinguished national and international experts in architecture, urban planning, engineering and sustainable development.

The jury noted that the submissions demonstrated exceptional creativity and technical excellence while presenting practical solutions for creating healthier, more resilient and people-centred urban environments.

The first prize was awarded to Team BURN / BREATH from Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) for their proposal "The Receding Membrane," which impressed the jury with its innovative transformation of an underutilised waterfront into an ecologically restorative and socially inclusive public landscape.

The project also received the Excellence in Presentation Award.

The second prize went to Team Unit Five from CUET for "SATURATE: An Urbanscape That Returns Water to Earth," while the third prize was awarded to Team West Line from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) for "Memories of Bengal: An Ecology of Belonging in the Urban Fabric."

The competition also recognised outstanding thematic contributions through four special awards. Team Vanguard Urbanists from North South University received the Low-Carbon Public Space Award; Team Chaya from Khulna University received the Climate-Resilient and Disaster-Ready Public Space Award; Team Aronyok from Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) received the Inclusive and Accessible Public Space Award; while the winning first-prize project also earned recognition for Excellence in Presentation.

A total of Tk10 lakh will be awarded to the winning teams, along with recognition.

The competition forms part of broader efforts to accelerate the transition towards a low-carbon and resource-efficient built environment in Bangladesh by encouraging innovative thinking among future architects, planners and designers. Through this initiative, young professionals were challenged to demonstrate how nature-based solutions, sustainable materials and inclusive design can contribute to building climate-resilient cities across Bangladesh.

Congratulating the winning teams and all participants, the organisers, especially the Chairman, RAJUK and UNOPS Bangladesh Country Manager, commended the high quality of submissions and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting innovative approaches that contribute to Bangladesh's sustainable urban development agenda.

Details regarding the official award ceremony will be announced in due course.