Ishtiaque Zahir Titas, Hon FAIA
Founding partner of Vitti Sthapati Brindo Ltd.
Md. Ishtiaque Zahir is a practicing Architect & Urban Designer from Bangladesh. He is the founding partner of Vitti Sthapati Brindo Ltd., a leading practice for the last 30 years. He attained Masters in Computing & Design from London, UK. He was awarded the Honorary Fellow of American Institute of Architects (Hon. FAIA). His work received recognitions that include highest acclaim from IAB and international awards like Architect of the Year (AYA) from India, Holcim awards, IDA USA. one of his projects got nominated for International acclaimed Aga Khan Award. His works has been published in both local and international journals.
His projects ranged from small housing to large urban development projects. His noted urban design projects are outcome of a unique participatory process between Local Authority and stake holders. The building projects are examples of responsive and sustainable development. He had the privilege to collaborate with internationally acclaimed architects like Moshe-Safdi from USA and Late Zaha Hadid from UK.
He worked for the betterment of the profession locally and globally. He was the Chair of the ARCASIA committee on Professional Practice. Presently, he is the Vice President of IAB, the Council member of UIA Region IV and the Co-Director of UIA Commission on SDG. (SDGC). UIA SDGC in collaboration with Royal Danish Academy have already published ‘An architecture guide to UN 17 SDGs’ https://www.uia-architectes.org/webApi/uploads/ressourcefile/590/sdg_commission_un17_guidebook.pdf
Since 2014 he represented UIA in UN-Habitat, advocating on professional’s interests in the New Urban Agenda (NUA). He also worked closely as Steering committee member of World Urban Campaign (WUC). He was Involved in many folds with the collaborative process of Habitat III conference 2016. He is the Co-chair of Partners Constituent Group (PCG) Professional of WUC. Moreover, he made official statement at the 7th plenary meeting of Habitat III, in Quito, 2016. He spoke in several sessions and organized multiple side events in Habitat III, WUF9, WUF10. Lastly, he participation as UIA representative in COP21 in Paris and lead the UIA team in COP 24 at Katowice.
He believes that the professionals of the built environment have an important role to play in ensuring the process of making better cities by 2030. His interests include designing sustainability through participatory process and designing public spaces.
