CHARCHA 18 | READING CITIES: CITIES AS CLASSROOM

What if the city itself could teach us architecture?

On 15 September 2026, the 18th session of Charcha, the ongoing lecture series of the Department of Architecture, Bangladesh University (arch.BU), powered by Berger Paints Bangladesh Ltd., invited us to look at cities differently.

Titled “Reading Cities: Cities as Classroom,” the three-hour session brought together 125 participants including students, architects, and academics for an inspiring journey through streets, public spaces, urban patterns, and the everyday life of cities.

The session was led by Prof. Dr. Shehzad Zahir, Professor, Department of Architecture, AUST/MIST and Former Head, Department of Architecture, Ahsanullah University of Science & Technology. Drawing from his experiences of travelling, observing, and engaging with cities, Prof. Zahir demonstrated how attentive observation can become a powerful tool for architectural learning and spatial imagination.

Moderated by Ar. Sheikh Itmam Soud, Head of the Department of Architecture, BU, the discussion went beyond the conventional boundaries of architectural education encouraging participants to see streets as texts, public spaces as living laboratories, and cities as classrooms without walls.

The session was further honoured by the presence of our respected Registrar, Brigadier General Md. Mahbubul Haque (Retd.), who graced the occasion and presented the distinguished speaker with a uniquely designed crest as a token of appreciation.

Interestingly, the crest itself tells another story of learning and achievement. Its design was developed from the visual identity of a recent international recognition received by our students in Mexico-transforming a moment of student achievement into a lasting symbol of pride for the Department.

From the classroom to the street, from observation to imagination, and from travel to learning

Charcha 18 reminded us that architecture is not learned only by looking at buildings.

We learn by reading the city.
We learn by walking.
We learn by observing.
We learn by experiencing.

And sometimes, the best classroom has no walls at all.

Charcha continues.

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