Rug factory in Rangpur, Bangladesh, wins the RIBA International Prize 2026

A factory is not the usual winner of a major architecture prize, which is what makes this one worth reading about. Green Field Factory, a seven-storey rug works in Rangpur, Bangladesh, by the Dhaka studio Nakshabid Architects, has won the RIBA International Prize for 2026. The biennial award goes to the best new building outside the UK, and this is only its fifth winner. It was announced at the Stirling Prize ceremony in London.

Built for the manufacturer Karupannya Rangpur Limited among fields and small settlements, the building takes its cue from the traditional Bengali home. Courtyards, verandas, gardens and a vast green facade bring in light and air, so less machinery is needed to cool it. The detail you'd notice is the single main entrance with two grand staircases for everyone. Nearby factories, the article notes, keep separate doors for workers and managers.

Inside there are shared spaces for breaks, a rooftop daycare, a medical practice, a grocery shop and a prayer room, plus artworks celebrating women at work and at home. Jury chair Bijoy Jain spoke of workers bringing their families to see where they worked.

It's a working factory, so this is one for reading rather than visiting. It's a good reminder of how much a building can change the people who use it.

Our summary of a story from Dezeen, published 16 October 2026. Read the original