NSU architecture celebrates rural aesthetics in freshers’, farewell event

The Department of Architecture at North South University (NSU) hosted a freshers’ reception and farewell ceremony on Thursday, under the theme “Gram Bangla,” celebrating the cultural and spatial narratives of rural Bengal.

The ceremony was held at the department’s Sky Gallery at 3:00 pm. The event welcomed new students to the academic journey of architecture while honouring graduating students for their accomplishments, according to a press release.

The theme paid tribute to the visual and material culture of the Bengali countryside, using bamboo structures, traditional patterns, and earthen tones to recreate a rural ambience within an urban academic setting.

The reception began with an orientation for the newcomers, introducing them to the department’s creative environment and collaborative learning culture. The setting served as a live demonstration of how architecture can reflect tradition, evoke emotion, and shape experience, values at the core of the department’s pedagogy.

Graduating students were formally recognised during the second half of the event, where certificates and tokens of appreciation were presented by Assistant Professor Shahriar Iqbal Raj, Chairperson of the Department, along with senior faculty members. The ceremony acknowledged the students’ academic dedication and creative contributions during their time at NSU.

Faculty members noted that the theme “Gram Bangla” was chosen not only to celebrate cultural identity but also to reinforce the role of architecture in interpreting and preserving vernacular aesthetics in contemporary design practice.

The event reflected the department’s ongoing commitment to nurturing architects who are grounded in cultural awareness while being prepared to respond to modern challenges with innovation and sensitivity.