From Blueprint to Brilliance: journey of Nazli Hussain

"I always think about the impact of the design on the environment and how human comfort can be ensured from natural resources. Also, selecting sustainable material is always my priority."

Nazli Hussain, founder, CEO, and sole proprietor of Praxis Architects becomes the 'bti The Daily Star Stellar Woman in the 'Architecture' category 2023. Stellar Women is a joint initiative by bti and The Daily Star to recognize young and emerging women from different sectors who are taking the nation forward with significant contributions.

The concept of sustainable architecture was largely unheard of even a decade ago in our country. Only a handful of Bangladeshi architects are qualified to practice even today. However, being unique, Nazli Hussain is the first Bangladeshi architect to be accredited as a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Accredited Professional (LEED AP) and the first to be acknowledged as a US Green Building Council Faculty, currently serving as a core team member. Her terrific journey is one that can inspire many others to pursue their dreams relentlessly, even if it means following a path less taken by others.

Born and raised within a family of progressive thinkers, the stakes were high for Nazli Hussain. Women's education and financial empowerment were and still are running themes in her family. All eyes were on her, knowing that one day as the eldest child, she would bear the financial responsibility of her family.

Young Nazli would often keenly observe the furniture, decor, and interiors of the homes she visited, as long as they had books. Her ability to observe and learn contributed greatly to her philosophy. Few friends, financial restraints, mounting academic pressure, and family expectations often made her doubt her worth too much. Nazli picked up on these details very early on in her life and tried to overcome them.

Her passion for acquiring knowledge fueled her interest in math and science. She chose to pursue medicine in the hopes that it would make her family happy, as it is a financially secure field. She was ready to risk her admission to BUET's Architecture Department for it. However, she chose the freedom to explore unknown levels of creativity instead, taking the unconventional path. Thus began her life at BUET.

She made a habit of practicing her craft in small-scale projects here and there, which allowed her to gain significant experience, income, and confidence. Earning money was never her target. More importantly, she focused on learning from each project she undertook.

Nazli realized around the time of her graduation that teaching and working under someone else was not her ambition. She wanted that complete freedom yet again, even if it meant having no support. Senior professionals looked down on her, while family members looked up to her financially. Being sandwiched like this did not stop her, and she stood strong and founded Praxis Architects in 2008. At the time, leaving full-time jobs for her passion was a huge risk, yet it did not faze her. Without help and without any support, she followed her passion. To date, she has worked with more than 120 clients throughout Bangladesh, gaining experience in interiors, exteriors, master plans, and buildings.

She also did not want to jump into the popular bandwagon that most architects chose; instead, she forged her own path, exploring an avenue not known in Bangladesh at the time: sustainable architecture. She randomly found out about LEED on the internet and started studying to achieve their certification. It was a tough, expensive process, but she made it happen with sheer willpower.

Being a full-time head of a firm, studying, taking care of her daughter, and managing her family is no easy feat, but Nazli did it with great time management and multitasking abilities. She went on to train developers about sustainability and also conducted many high-profile projects. She has done it all alone and emerged successful. She dreams of designing a hospital someday, specifically for children with special needs.

Nazli Hussain was recently named one of the 'Top 10 Asian Women Architects 2023' by Women Entrepreneur India. She is also working as a sustainability expertise consultant for the World Bank Group. Through the Stellar Women platform, Nazli hopes to inspire other women as well as their families to support their professional endeavors.