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Rohingya Cultural Memory Centre

The Rohingya Cultural Memory Centre, designed by Rizvi Hassan and Khwaja Fatmi, is a cultural hub located in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, aimed at preserving and celebrating Rohingya heritage through community participation and traditional architecture. Opened in March 2022, it features various spaces for exhibitions, workshops, and community gatherings, utilizing local materials and sustainable practices. The centre addresses identity and mental health challenges within the refugee community while fostering intergenerational learning and cultural recognition.

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202 views7 pages

Rohingya Cultural Memory Centre

The Rohingya Cultural Memory Centre, designed by Rizvi Hassan and Khwaja Fatmi, is a cultural hub located in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, aimed at preserving and celebrating Rohingya heritage through community participation and traditional architecture. Opened in March 2022, it features various spaces for exhibitions, workshops, and community gatherings, utilizing local materials and sustainable practices. The centre addresses identity and mental health challenges within the refugee community while fostering intergenerational learning and cultural recognition.

Uploaded by

sadequl islam
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Rohingya Cultural Memory Centre

Preserving Rohingya Identity Through Architecture

Designed by Rizvi Hassan & Khwaja Fatmi

Located at Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar Camps – Opened

March 2022

Concept & Purpose

•A cultural hub built to preserve, display, and celebrate Rohingya heritage

and identity

•Designed through participatory workshops with community artisans,

ensuring cultural authenticity

•Supports intergenerational memory-sharing, community healing, and

psychosocial wellbeing
Architectural Approach &
Materials

•Natural, local materials: bamboo screens


and nipa-palm roofing – climate‑responsive
and culturally rooted
•Modular & flexible construction: pre-cast
columns and nut‑bolt floor blocks allow easy
dismantling and relocation
•Extended eaves provide protection from
heavy rain and wind in the region
Layout & Spatial Organization
•Built on a hilltop in the camp, with four internal courtyards
under each roof bringing in natural light and ventilation

•Includes spaces for:


• Exhibition hall
(Rohingya craft,
artifacts, walk-
through
narratives)
• Workshops
(artisan
training, skill
exchange)
• Open-air
auditorium
(community
gatherings)
• Learning centre
(non-formal
cultural
education
Community & Participation
•Hundreds of intergenerational
consultations and artisan workshops
shaped design content and cultural
narratives
•Artisans recreated memories via woven
bamboo panels depicting farming, rivers,
boats, elephants, village life Elder artisans
trained youth in traditional techniques,
fostering community ownership
Landscape &
Environmental Integration
•Native plantings in four courtyards:
kitchen, water-feature, healing, and
meditative gardens Rainwater
harvesting from four roofs and
permeable courtyards supports
groundwater recharge Bamboo
screens ensure breathability,
security, and framed visual connection
to surroundings
Cultural Programs & Healing
•Interactive exhibitions display intangible
heritage: music, poetry, storytelling, and
crafts Skills programs: woodcarving,
pottery, basketry, boat-modeling –
empowering artisans and preserving
traditions Functions as a multi-purpose
psychosocial space, fostering dignity,
pride, and intergenerational learning
Impact & Future Prospects
•Addresse identity crisis and mental
health challenges within the refugee
community
•Managed fully by Rohingya staff,
including women-focused programs
(e.g., women’s days)
•Expansion through Mini‑RCMCs and
mobile cultural outreach kits (cultural
box) reaching remote camps Supports
international cultural recognition &
diaspora connectivity

Recognition & Support


•Created by IOM in collaboration with
Bangladesh govt, supported by SIDA,
DFATD, FCDO, SDC, Netherlands MFA

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