For all its architectural intrigue, though, it is important not to lose sight of the reason Arcadia Education Project exists.

It is here because of Alam’s single-minded determination to build a school for local children, many of whom would otherwise be excluded from lessons, since free education only starts at the age of 6 in Bangladesh. “Most of the children’s parents are domestic or factory workers, so the children are left out of education because we don’t have a nursery system here,” says Alam.

Aga Khan Trust for Culture

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