A rug factory in northern Bangladesh has been named the world’s best new building. Green Field Factory in Rangpur won the 2026 RIBA International Prize, awarded by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). The winner was announced at the Stirling Prize ceremony in London on 15 October.
The Building
Dhaka-based Nakshabid Architects designed the seven-storey factory, which covers more than 144,000 square feet. It has courtyards, pond-lined walkways and a facade covered in tropical plants. The design draws on traditional Bengali homesteads, where courtyards and ponds are central. Karupannya Rangpur Limited runs the factory, which makes handmade rugs, doormats and bathmats.
A Worker-First Workplace
Judges called the building a “work of quiet humility.” The design aims to break down workplace hierarchies and put employee wellbeing first, and its workforce is predominantly female. RIBA said its jury, which visited in September, found that workers often use the amenities with their families outside working hours. Dezeen reports that RIBA’s president said the project redefines manufacturing architecture.
Delayed Recognition
The factory opened in 2017. According to CNN, circumstances such as the pandemic meant the jury could not visit until this year.
A Strong Year for Bangladesh
The factory was one of two Bangladeshi projects on the four-building shortlist, alongside BRAC University in Dhaka. It is the fifth winner of the biennial prize and the second from Bangladesh. The previous winner, in 2024, was a timber social housing project in Barcelona. Earlier winners include a school in rural Brazil, a university in Lima and a hospital in a remote, flood-prone part of Bangladesh.
Why It Matters
Factory buildings in Bangladesh are often linked to crowded, unsafe conditions. This prize shows that industrial architecture can be humane, green and respectful of workers, particularly women.
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