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Nasreen Zamir

Founder & CEO, Nasreen Zamir And Associates
Founder, Creative Director & CEO of Jonaki by Nasreen Zamir

Profile
Accomplished interior designer and entrepreneur with a proven record of delivering prestigious projects for five-star hotels, multinational organizations, corporate offices, luxury residences, showrooms, and restaurants. Known for a refined design philosophy that emphasizes quality, detail, and timeless modern minimalism. Diversified expertise into furniture and textile design, and recently expanded into lifestyle branding with the launch of Jonaki by Nasreen Zamir, a fine fragrance and cosmetics line. Passionate about creative innovation across disciplines, believing that design transcends interiors to shape experiences, products, and lifestyles. Well-traveled, culturally aware, and committed to excellence.

Key Skills

• Interior Architecture & Space Planning
• Modern & Minimalist Design Concepts
• Furniture & Textile Design
• Project Leadership for High-End Developments
• Brand Creation & Product Development
• Creative Direction & Visual Aesthetics
• Client Relations & Stakeholder Management

Professional Experience

• Principal Interior Designer & Founder & CEO
  Nasreen Zamir And Associates - Dhaka, Bangladesh
  Delivered high-profile interior design projects for five-star hotels, multinational corporations, and luxury residences. Led multidisciplinary design teams, ensuring projects met exacting quality and detail standards. Specialized in modern minimalist interiors with bespoke furniture and textile elements. Designed hospitality, retail, and residential spaces that blend functionality with understated elegance.

Selected Projects

• Five-Star Hotels: Full interior concept and execution. Projects: Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel, Ruposhi Bangla Hotel, Radisson Water Garden Hotel, 100 room Guest hotel at KEPZ, Chittagong, etc.
• Multinational Corporate Offices: Modern, functional workspaces with cultural integration. Projects: SIEMENS Bangladesh Limited, Nokia EA Limited, GrameenPhone Ltd, South Asia Enterprise Development Facility, Rangs Ltd, Youngone Ltd, Singapore Airlines, etc.
• Luxury Private Residences: Tailored designs emphasizing client lifestyle and identity. All custom-designed furniture manufactured at our own furniture factory.
• Showrooms & Restaurants: Engaging, brand-consistent customer environments. Projects: Red Shift, Indian Restaurant, Apex, Lifestyle clothing brands, etc.

Honorary Consul
Nasreen Zamir is also appointed as the Honorary Consul of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to Dhaka, Bangladesh. President
Velayet Hossain Bhohumokhi Uccha Biddhalay, Tangail - A school for technical vocational training for 4000 boys and girls. New Innovation - Lifestyle
Founder, Creative Director & CEO of Jonaki by Nasreen Zamir - Fragrance, Cosmetics & Skincare
Launched Bangladesh’s first fine fragrance brand, expanding into cosmetics and skincare. Created product design, formulation, branding, and marketing strategy. The brand "Jonaki" inspired by Bengali literature, and fireflies symbolizing elegance and identity. Education
Graduate of Dhaka University – 1973
Graduate Interior Design from Algonquin School of Design, Canada - 1980 Languages
English (Fluent)
Bengali (Native) Personal Philosophy
Design is not confined to interiors - it is a creative and ongoing journey that can transform products, brands, and lifestyles.

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Ar. Kazi Golam Nasir

Ex-IAB (Institute of Architects Bangladesh) President
Chief Architect at the Department of Architecture under the Ministry of Housing & Public Works

Ar. Kazi Golam Nasir is a prominent figure in Bangladesh’s architectural sphere. Here’s a summary of his background and contributions:

Profile & Roles

• He has served as the Chief Architect at the Department of Architecture under the Ministry of Housing & Public Works since January 26, 2015, succeeding Architect Ahsanul Huq Khan.
• He has held leading positions within the Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB) and served as President of IAB.

Key Contributions & Views

• Urban Planning & Policy Advocacy: As IAB President and Chief Architect, he has been vocal about the need to decentralize Dhaka, regulate population density, and enforce FAR (Floor Area Ratio) regulations for sustainable urban design.
• Satellite Township Development: He oversaw master planning efforts for areas like Purbachal and Azimpur as part of mitigating urban overcrowding and promoting equitable housing.
• Preservation of Louis Kahn’s JS Bhaban Design: Played a central role in repatriating original drawings and plans for the Jatiya Sangsad Complex from the University of Pennsylvania to the Government of Bangladesh.

Recognition & Professional Engagement

• As IAB President, Nasir presided over prestigious events such as the Berger Award for Excellence in Architecture (BAEA), contributing to the recognition of architectural achievements in Bangladesh.
• He chaired programs honoring architecture educators, such as the Crown Cement Lifetime Achievement Award event in 2018.

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Ar. Masudur Rahman Khan

Ex-Vice President of the Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB)
Principal Architect & Managing Director of Bashat Architects Engineers

Ar. Masudur Rahman Khan (often referred to simply as Masudur Rahman Khan) is a highly respected Bangladeshi architect and the Principal Architect & Managing Director of Bashat Architects Engineers.

Profile Highlights

• Signature Projects & Expertise:
  • Mausoleum Complex of former President Ziaur Rahman, including the iconic Zia Udyan in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka
  • International Mother Language Institute, designed around the concept of an open book, in Segunbagicha
  • Bangladesh Computer Council Building in Agargaon
  • Renovation and redesign of Bangabandhu Stadium and Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur
  • Other notable works include Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, public health buildings, and design planning for Payra Power Plant campus
• Philosophy & Approach: Masudur Rahman Khan approaches architecture as sculptural art—believing that a structure should inspire lasting impressions and reflect cultural identity. He emphasizes that architectural form must follow function and incorporate sustainability and green design as intrinsic values, not afterthoughts. He often laments the diminishing artistic intent within Dhaka’s built environment and advocates for elevating architecture beyond commercial metrics such as square footage.
• Background & Leadership: A BUET alumnus (Class of 1989), he initially served as an assistant architect in the Department of Architecture before founding Bashat Architects Engineers. Under his leadership, the firm has received recognition, including the Prime Minister’s Beautification Award in 2006. He is also Vice President of the Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB).

Impact & Recognition

• Leading architect behind several of Bangladesh’s most iconic public structures and stadiums
• Advocates for democratic, context-aware, and emotionally resonant architecture, especially rooted in his cultural upbringing in Mymensingh
• His firm, Bashat Architects Engineers, is known for blending technical proficiency with design elegance, including recent international projects

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AR. Tanya Tazeen Karim

Tanya Tazeen Karim is a highly respected Bangladeshi architect and interior designer. She is a founding partner of Tanya Karim N.R. Khan & Associates (TKNRK), a prominent Dhaka-based firm known for its innovative architecture, master planning, interiors, landscaping, and graphic design services.

Background & Early Career
• Graduated with a Bachelor’s in Architecture from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) in 1990, and later partnered with Nurur Rahman Khan to found TKNRK in the early 1990s.
• Their major break came in 1993 with the interior design of Beximco Pharmaceuticals’ headquarters in Dhaka — a project that led to widespread recognition.

Firm & Practice
• TKNRK quickly earned a reputation for corporate interior design, serving multinational banks, commercial high-rises, and bespoke residences.
• The firm has completed projects in Bhutan (e.g., Bhutan Telecom, RENEW complex), India, Malaysia, China, and Thailand.

Achievements & Recognition
• Tanya received the Daily Star Award for Outstanding Woman in Business in 2010.
• TKNRK has earned national IAB awards and international honors. Projects have been nominated for the Aga Khan Award, ARCASIA Awards, and more.

Design Philosophy & Approach
• Known for integrating context-sensitive and sustainable design, TKNRK blends climatic responsiveness with material and cultural references.
• The award-winning Tanvir Residence features handcrafted shading systems and natural ventilation strategies inspired by local climate and views.
• Tanya also mentors young architects and teaches as visiting faculty at the University of Asia Pacific.

Other Roles & Contributions
• Board Member, Bangladesh Women’s Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BWCCI).
• Managing Director, Urban Bangla Ltd — a sustainable clothing venture.
• Leadership roles in WAEPA and contributor to sustainable urban design initiatives.

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IDr Lai Siew Hong

Firm & Role:
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Designer at Blu Water Studio Sdn Bhd, a Kuala Lumpur-based boutique design firm specializing in hospitality and F&B projects across the Asia-Pacific region.

Education:
Associate Degree in Applied Science (Interior Design), State University of New York / Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT).

Professional Background:
With over 30 years of design experience, Lai formerly served as Creative Partner at Axis Identity Group before founding Blu Water Studio in 2010. Under his leadership, the firm has grown to a team of 20–30 professionals.

Notable Projects:

• The Edison George Town, Penang (heritage mansion conversion)
• EQ Kuala Lumpur – multiple F&B outlets
• Hard Rock Hotel, Desaru Coast, Johor
• Sky51 rooftop bar, citizenM Kuala Lumpur, Club Med Borneo, KYO Niseko resort, Sheraton Kuching

Awards & Recognition:

• Designer of the Year – Designer of the Year Awards 2020
• Named in Tatler Asia’s “Most Influential Designers in Malaysia” (2021)
• Projects awarded by IDA, AHEAD Asia, RIDA, APIDA, StarProperty, and others
• Gold in MIID Nippon Paint REKA Awards 2015 (F&B Category – Scoop at Menara Dion)

Leadership & Mentorship:
President, Malaysian Institute of Interior Designers (MIID), 2022–2024.
Chief Judge/Chairman for MIID REKA Conference, AYDA Awards (2025–26), and APSDA Awards 2025.
Adjunct Lecturer at Taylor’s University Malaysia and mentor at China Academy of Art, Hangzhou.

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AR. Maria Nina Bailon-Arce

Position & Firm:
Senior Partner at Arce • Bailon • Arce Architects, a distinguished architectural and engineering consultancy based in Quezon City, Metro Manila.

Professional Credentials:
FUAP (Fellow, United Architects of the Philippines), ASEAN Architect, and APEC Architect.

Education & Early Achievements:
Graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Santo Tomas in 1981.
Ranked Top 5 in the July 1983 PRC Architecture Board Exams.
Winner of national and international student competitions, with numerous academic honors including the Dean’s List and Rector’s Awards.

Early Career:
Served 16 years at F.F. Cruz & Co. Inc., working on projects ranging from industrial factories to schools and ecclesiastical structures related to papal visits.

Professional and Civic Engagement:
Volunteer since 2000 for the Girl Scouts of the Philippines Real Properties & Buildings Committee; National Board Member (2012–2015).
Held key leadership roles in the United Architects of the Philippines, including President of the UAP Manila Atelier Chapter (1997–1998), and active member of the “Balangkasan” committee.

Recognition:
Named among the “50 Notable Architects” by UAP.
Served as a juror for the UAP College of Fellows.

About the Firm:
Founded in 1987, Arce • Bailon • Arce Architects provides comprehensive services in architecture, interior design, and engineering for both public and private sectors.