A day-long workshop on architectural model making was organized by the Department of Architecture, AIUB on the 24^th of March 2022, at the multi-purpose hall. Around 80 students from Studio III to VI participated in the workshop and a group of enthusiastic students from senior studios facilitated them as volunteers.  The workshop was coordinated by the faculties of the department. Three-dimensional model is an essential tool used worldwide to show the quality of spaces in an architectural project. During the past two years of online classes, there was a deterioration in the overall model making skill of junior level students, who were enrolled during the Covid-period. So, the Department thought of conducting a workshop to assist students improve their model-making workmanship through hands-on demonstration.

The workshop commenced with an opening speech from the Head of the Department, M. Arefeen Ibrahim. Following this, Assistant Professor Ar. Saiful Islam Tariq and senior Assistant Professor, Ar. Ashik Ikbal shared some model-making tips and strategies through power-point presentation and live demonstration. After that, organizers of the workshop Ar. Sariful Islam, Ar. Tabassum Zarin, Ar. Nazifa Zabeen, Ar. Rashed Hasan and Ar. Chowdhury Farah Zaki demonstrated the task assigned for workshop to students, with the help of drawings and power-point slides. Students, in a group of two, had to complete a sectional model of the “Azuma House” – an interesting piece of architecture that is situated in the dense urban setup of Osaka. Designed by eminent Japanese architect, Tadao Ando – the solid concrete exterior walls of this residence act as an envelope to ensure privacy of the residents but magical spaces are created inside these walls by integrating stair, courtyard and natural light. A sectional model of this house is a perfect example of how useful architectural models are to appreciate the quality and scale of spaces in a building. The colour scheme and required materials for the models were instructed before the workshop. Students brought their own tools and materials, and drawings were provided by the organizers. Each of the volunteers were assigned four to five groups for supervision. Faculties also went to each group’s workspaces multiple times, to provide hands-on guidance on model-making.  

The Dean of Faculty of Engineering, Dr. A B M Siddique Hossain, encouraged the students with his presence and valuable speech. In the afternoon, honourable Vice Chancellor of AIUB, Dr. Carmen Z. Lamagna visited the workshop and appreciated this initiative in her speech. She also handed over some of the certificates to the participants. At the end of the workshop, the complete models were exhibited on the stage and the rest of the certificates were distributed to the participants by Head of the Department, M. Arefeen Ibrahim.

Spontaneous participation of students and faculties, and cordial support from the University Administration made this workshop a vibrant and successful one, which was much required after the long-break in physical classes due to the pandemic.