Dr Tanzil Shafique

B.Arch, M.Arch, PhD, FHEA

School of Architecture and Landscape

Director of Postgraduate (Taught) Programmes

A profile picture of Tanzil Shafique
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t.i.shafique@sheffield.ac.uk

Full contact details

Dr Tanzil Shafique
School of Architecture and Landscape
Arts Tower
Western Bank
Sheffield
S10 2TN
Profile

Tanzil Shafique is a Lecturer of Urban Design and Director of the Postgraduate Programmes at The University of Sheffield School of Architecture. He is also an Associate of the Urban Institute. Previously, he taught at the University of Melbourne, Australia and the University of Arkansas, USA. Tanzil’s research looks at southern urbanism, pluriversal architectural practice and informal planning, mainly focusing on the ongoing adaptation and transformation due to climate change led by the local citizens. He received a British Academy grant in 2021 to convene Decolonial Cities Collective, a transdisciplinary knowledge commons. Additionally, Tanzil co-convenes the Platform for Just Housing (Najjyo Abashon Moncho or NAM) and Bangladesh Climate Alliance, which work towards housing and climate justice with local activists and citizens. Tanzil recently co-authored Off-Grid Toilets (2022), Atlas of Informal Settlements (2023) and his upcoming monograph is titled: City of Desire: An Urban Biography of the Largest Slum in Bangladesh (Bloomsbury, 2024). 

Qualifications
  • Bachelor of Architecutre (BRAC University, Bangladesh)
  • Master of Architecture in Ecological Urbanism (Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York)
  • PhD in Urban Design (University of Melbourne, Australia)
Research interests

Ongoing research projects

  1. Socio-spatiality of shitting well: Exploring sanitation dynamics and futures in informal settlements (in collaboration with University of Liverpool and Brac University Center for Inclusive Architecture and Urbanism)
  2. Morphogenesis of Informal Settlements (in collaboration with Informal Urbanism Research Hub, University of Melbourne)
  3. Wala urbanism: ecology of street vending (in development)
  4. Minority cities: towards an urbanism of diversity (in development)

Research Interest and PhD supervision areas

Theme 1: Practice-oriented Keywords: Informal settlements, informal housing, urban informality, slum upgrading practices, international development and urban design

Theme 2: Theory-oriented Assemblage thinking in architecture and urban design, Deleuze studies, ontological design, pluriversality and decolonization,

Theme 3: Methodology-oriented Keywords: Social dynamics of urban morphology, urban mapping at the scale of lived reality, spatial ethnography, social-spatial linkages

Theme 4: Area-oriented Keywords: Dhaka/Bangladesh, East London/UK

Publications

Books

  • Dovey K, Oostrum MV, Shafique T, Chatterjee I & Pafka E (2023) Atlas of Informal Settlement Understanding Self-Organized Urban Design. Bloomsbury Publishing. RIS download Bibtex download
  • (2023) OFF-GRID TOILETS. RIS download Bibtex download

Journal articles

Chapters

Research group

Design, engagement and practice

Grants

Academic Awards, Grants and Fellowships 

  • (2018) Sessional Teaching Excellence Award, University of Melbourne
  • (2017) AU$ 200,000+ Melbourne Research Scholarship, University of Melbourne for doctoral research
  • (2017) Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) / AIA Housing Design Education Award (for ‘Housing for Aging in Community’)
  • (2017) $250,000 Grant by Walmart Family Foundation for Affordable Housing Programme, University of Arkansas Architecture School Dean’s Office
  • (2014) Dean’s Graduate Faculty Award for Academic Excellence, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York
  • (2013) Postgraduate Scholarship, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York
  • (2012) Vice-Chancellor’s Prize for Highest Academic Achievement, BRAC University
  • (2007-2011) Undergraduate Merit Scholarship, BRAC University
Teaching activities

PGT Urban Design Project
PGT Urban Design Thesis
PGT Trajetories in Urban Design
PGT Tools and Methods in Urban Design
PGT Participation in Urban Design
UG Communications
UG CAAD

Professional activities and memberships
  • Associate Member, American Institute of Architects
  • Affiliate Member, Royal Institute of British Architects
  • Associate Member, Institute of Architects Bangladesh
  • Member, Urban Design Group