The studio held a fundraising lunch this week as part of a series of initiatives to support the Mannan Foundation Trust.

Co-founded by Project Architect Tumpa Fellows, who was selected as the 1st RIBA Rising Star as part of the 2017 cohort, the trust helps disadvantaged people in the remote, low-lying village of Rajapur in Bangladesh. 

Proceeds raised from the event will go towards building the Rajapur Women's Literacy and Healthcare Centre - a community building which aims to empower the women of Rajapur (and the surrounding villages) by providing income generation, literacy skills for women and basic healthcare to villagers.

The building is constructed with local materials and revives the traditional construction method of building with rammed earth and bamboo. The project also tackles social issues, including the fact that most girls in rural Bangladesh do not continue education beyond the age of 11 by encouraging the women to engage with the work on site by constructing rammed earth wall blocks at home. The external walls are cladded with bamboo which has been sourced from local bamboo gardens and treated on site to demonstrate to the community how to maintain the longevity of the material. The walls are composed with perforation to allow natural light into the building and for cross ventilation.

For more information on the project and how to donate please visit: www.mannanfoundationtrust.org