Architecture Research & Development Ltd. (ARD/ARDL)

Tagline: 3Zero x 5G — Zero Poverty, Zero Unemployment, Zero Net Carbon | GET RICH Bangladesh

Headquarters: Dhaka (Mohammadpur HQ) | Studio: Gazipur, Bangladesh
Leadership: Architect Sumsun Nahar (BUET) — Managing Director & CEO
Nature of Business: Bangladesh‑registered architecture, engineering & development consultancy delivering end‑to‑end sustainable planning, design, build‑assist, and impact operations across urban & rural territories.

01. Who We Are — The Short Version

ARD/ARDL is a mission‑driven consultancy building a smarter Bangladesh through AI‑enabled planning, climate‑smart infrastructure, and entrepreneurship at scale. We specialize in Micro Rural Economic Zones (MREZ), Smart City/Village masterplans, and low‑energy cold‑storage & agrivalue systems that convert villages into resilient, income‑generating hubs.

02. Vision & Mission

Vision: A Bangladesh where every community is self‑sustaining, climate‑resilient, and digitally connected — contributing to a net‑zero, high‑opportunity economy by 2050.

Mission: Design and deploy scalable, culturally rooted, tech‑smart solutions — from housing and public sanitation to cold‑chains and SME clusters — that create 10+ million livelihoods while protecting ecosystems and heritage.

03. Core Values

• People‑First: Co‑create with communities; design for dignity and access.

• Contextual Sustainability: Bangladeshi culture & climate at the center.

• Doers’ Bias: Rapid pilots → iterate → scale.

• Open Partnerships: Govt–Private–NGO–Donor collaboration.

• Accountability: Evidence‑based impact, transparent finance.

04. Why ARD — Our Edge

• Full‑Stack Delivery: Planning → Design → Engineering → Procurement‑assist → Implementation support → O&M coaching.

• Rural Scale Capability: Programs mapped across 534+ upazilas and 4,479 unions, with a pipeline for 10,000 courtyard‑based economic zones.

• Climate‑Smart Toolkits: Passive cooling, mud‑dome/RCC hybrid stores, solar‑assist, circular construction, and BNBC‑aligned designs.

• AI & Data: GIS, remote sensing, digital twins, and AI‑driven training/market linkage.

• Culture‑Forward: Semi‑Islamic Bangladeshi aesthetics; heritage crafts integrated into enterprise.

05. Sectors & Services

Urban & Regional Planning

• City & regional masterplans (Smart City 2050 frameworks)

• Land use, TOD/TDR, DAP reviews, FAR‑density modeling

• Drainage, mobility, and disaster‑risk‑reduction plans

Rural & Agri‑Value Systems

• Micro Rural Economic Zones (MREZ) design & rollout

• Cold‑storage networks (10’×10’ deep freeze, 2.5–3 TR units; modular clusters)

• Farm‑to‑market logistics, village markets, processing sheds

Architecture & Infrastructure

• Affordable, resilient housing (mud‑concrete domes, hybrid systems)

• Sanitation (women‑friendly Pink Toilets), community centers, STS facilities

• Health booths, One‑Stop Service hubs, ICT & training centers

Sustainability & Compliance

• BNBC‑2020, DoE SWM Rules‑2021 alignment; green building advisory

• E&S assessments, circular economy roadmaps, ESG reporting

Entrepreneurship & Capacity Building

• Youth & women skills programs, SME incubation (AMESI)

• Access to finance pathways with banks & micro‑investors

• Digital literacy, AI, drone, language, and agri‑tech training

Program Design & Capital Advisory

• PPP structuring, investor decks, DPP/EOI/RFP preparation

• Donor alignment (World Bank, IFAD, ADB, JICA, EU, UN agencies)

• Monitoring, evaluation & learning (MEL) frameworks

06. Flagship Initiatives

• SERV – Self‑Sustaining Environmentally Resilient Village: Rural climate‑adaptation program integrating housing, livelihoods, water, sanitation, and local markets.

• ESHO‑ARDL – E‑Shop with Sustainable Habitation: Commerce + housing model under the GET RICH Bangladesh banner to expand village production and e‑trade.

• MREZ – Micro Rural Economic Zones: Courtyard‑based clusters combining agri‑processing, crafts, training, and retail; pipeline across 527–534 target areas.

• Cold Storage & Food Cellars: Mud‑dome and RCC‑hybrid root cellars; clay‑pot & solar‑assist variants for low‑energy preservation.

• One Health – One Network (OHON): Community health booths with wellness products, tele‑consults, and herbal supply chains.

• AMESI: ARD Micro‑Entrepreneurship Initiative — empowering 12 million rural youth via 5G‑enabled AI Villages.

• PARTNER Program: Agricultural & Rural Transformation for 20,000 youth/women agri‑entrepreneurs across all 64 districts.

• AI Smart Village 2050: Education, renewable energy, mobility, and digital trade integrated into village design.

07. Geographic Footprint & Reach

• Active concepts and prototypes across all 534 upazilas; a model zone established in Gazipur.

• Engagements in disaster‑prone regions (flood/cyclone belts) with resilient housing and cold‑chain pilots.

• Urban assignments under LGD/LGED & City Corporations (e.g., CCC) aligning with Smart Bangladesh 2041/2050.

08. Impact to Date (Selected)

• 1,000+ eco‑homes and amenities implemented for marginalized families since 2007; 5,000+ residents currently living in ARD‑designed habitats.

• 534 Smart Cold Storage blueprint advancing; 10 immediate pilots mobilized with investors & vendors.

• Jobs & Skills: Structured pathways to create 534+ new jobs in early phases; school enrollment up for 1,200+ children; 7 tCO₂ reduced through low‑energy systems (pilot‑stage metrics).

• Women‑Friendly Infrastructure: Pink Toilet concept designs aligned to BNBC and inclusive design standards.

Note: Impact metrics are program‑specific and updated with each deployment; third‑party verification options available.

09. Business Model

• Consulting & Design: Fixed‑fee and milestone‑based.

• Program Delivery: PPPs/JVs with equity + performance‑based returns.

• Micro‑Investment Networks: Share‑based village assets (resorts, stores, cold‑chains) with clear ownership and lifetime profit rights.

• Training & Certification: Paid cohorts, donor‑funded cohorts, and bank‑linked entrepreneurship tracks.

Investment Ask (Illustrative):

• SERV/MREZ cold‑storage tranche: BDT 10–12 lakh per unit (pilot) with national scale to 500+ units.

• Portfolio scale: BDT $200M blended capital across SERV & ESHO‑ARDL national rollout.

10. Partnerships & Stakeholder Ecosystem

• Government: LGD/LGED, City Corporations (e.g., CCC), line ministries and agencies.

• Banks & FIs: Bangladesh Bank startup schemes; collaborations explored with Janata Bank and others.

• Donors & IFIs: World Bank, IFAD, ADB, JICA, KOICA, EU, UN agencies (as applicable per program).

• NGOs & Foundations: Program alliances for training, health, and livelihoods.

• Private & Diaspora Investors: Micro‑equity & PPP vehicles for infrastructure and enterprise assets.

11. Standards & Methods

• Codes/Policies: BNBC‑2020, DoE SWM Rules‑2021, accessibility norms; city DAP/TDR/TOD frameworks.

• Design: Passive cooling, daylighting, flood‑resilient geometry, modular prefabrication, bamboo/block hybrid, low‑carbon materials.

• Digital: GIS mapping, dashboards, AI/ML for demand forecasting, MEL systems for impact tracking.

• Culture: Semi‑Islamic Bangladeshi identity in massing, façade, attire & public‑realm composition.

12. Governance & Team

• Leadership: Architect Sumsun Nahar — green building specialist; international collaboration & peace‑oriented development.

• Team: Architects, planners, civil/structural/electrical engineers, agri/food tech, economists, trainers, and community mobilizers.

• Delivery Model: Central design core + regional field cells + vetted vendor/investor pool.

13. Roadmap 2025–2030

1. Deploy 500+ cold‑storage centers via 10‑unit pilot replication.

2. Scale MREZ to 10,000 courtyard zones with SME clusters and e‑shops.

3. Pink Toilet & inclusive public facilities in priority municipalities.

4. AI Smart Village education & health nodes (OHON) in each district.

5. Net‑Zero Playbook for local govts: energy, waste, mobility, and housing transitions.

14. Selected Workstreams & Case Notes

• Chattogram (CCC): Smart City elements under LGCRRP; inclusive STS ramp geometry; flood‑resilient siting.

• Gazipur Model Zone: Training centers, SME courtyards, eco‑resort prototypes, and cold‑storage pilots.

• Heritage & Crafts: Rangpur Shataranji crafts revitalization with e‑commerce and sustainable housing support.

15. Communications & Culture

• Brand Pillars: 3Zero, 5G‑GetRich2030‑50, GET RICH Bangladesh.

• Language & Visuals: English/Bangla; modest South‑Asian attire in imagery; community‑centric storytelling.

• Outreach: YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook; youth volunteer & diaspora investment calls.

16. Compliance & Ethics

• Transparent procurement, anti‑corruption protocols, and grievance redress for community projects.

• Gender‑safe worksites; safeguarding and child‑protection standards in training hubs.

17. Contact

Architecture Research & Development Ltd. (ARD/ARDL)
Dhaka HQ | Gazipur Studio, Bangladesh
Lead: Architect Sumsun Nahar (BUET)
Phone/WhatsApp: +8801711334510
Email: sn.moonni76@gmail.com

Partner with ARD/ARDL to co‑design Bangladesh’s next decade: climate‑smart, culturally rooted, and economically unstoppable.