News and Events

Co.Lab 06 | Khazirgaon Site Visit – King’s Foundation Rapid Planning Toolkit

Date : 07 Feb 2026

As part of Gramer Haor Co.Lab 06, students from Shahjalal University of Science & Technology (SUST) have completed their site visit to Khazirgaon, working alongside colleagues from Birmingham City University (BCU). This marks our sixth international collaboration, built steadily year after year.

The site visit focused on direct engagement with local and diaspora-led businesses, exploring eight different plots within the bazaar area. Students are now developing a replicable morphology for small shops and façades, responding to climate, livelihoods, and everyday use. This forms part of Stage 4: Design & Implementation of the King’s Foundation Rapid Planning Toolkit.

The collaboration between BCU and SUST, through the Co.Lab studio with Eccles Ng and Abubokkar Siddiki, continues to demonstrate the value of long-term academic partnerships grounded in real places and real communities. The project is based in Khazirgaon, where Co.Lab has been working over several years to explore pathways for sustainable and resilient growth.

This stage of the project focuses on:
 • Small-scale bazaar buildings combining shops and living
 • Supporting local and diaspora investment
 • Flood-resilient, climate-responsive design
 • Affordable, buildable proposals using local materials
 • Design rooted in social, environmental, and economic sustainability

Gramer Haor 06 continues to explore how village-scale design can support resilient growth while retaining local identity.