'When I first came, I saw only water,' Saif Ul Haque remembers. 'If there's no land, where could I build?' With its raft structure and recycled steel drums, the amphibious Arcadia Education Project could float during the months of monsoon, when the site disappears under three metres of water, and settle back on dry ground once the water recedes. Its bow roofs were inspired by the boat sheds visible across the liquid landscapes of Bangladesh. Built on a shoestring, this school for underprivileged children represented hope, and was awarded a prestigious Aga Khan Award in 2019. But less than a year later, heavy downpours and devastating floods damaged the structure beyond repair. Violent weather events are a relentless threat to the fragile landscapes of Bangladesh. The life cut short of this school reminds us that climate change is deepening inequalities, and that architecture is increasingly vulnerable.
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