Integrated Architecture & Development (IAD) emerged from a growing recognition of the disconnect between architectural practice, research, and the development sector in Bangladesh. Rabeya Rahman, founder of IAD was trained as an architect. She has worked across design, development and humanitarian contexts. Her work explores how architectural thinking can engage with situations shaped by displacement, disaster, conflict and inequality. Nearly two decades, she observed both the potential and the limitations of the existing systems. Conventional architectural practice largely serves those who can afford it, leaving communities in need or in crisis without access to design knowledge or spatial expertise.

In contrast, NGOs and development organizations work directly with these communities, yet often operate without integrating design processes into their work. This creates a gap—where the need for spatial thinking is high, but the means to apply it remain limited. A similar divide also exists between architectural research and practice. While critical insights are produced within academic and research environments, they rarely translate into on-the-ground interventions. At the same time, development practitioners may lack familiarity with design methods, making collaboration difficult despite shared goals.

Yet alongside these challenges, there has been a growing interest among architects, academics, and practitioners to engage more directly with development and humanitarian work. IAD was founded in response to this moment—as an open, collaborative platform that brings together design, research, humanitarian and development practice. It creates space for professionals, organizations, and communities to work together, bridging disciplinary boundaries and supporting more integrated, responsive, and grounded approaches to shelter, housing and settlement development.