MD Ashfaq Bin Arif (Rafat) is a Lecturer in the Department of Architecture at the State University of Bangladesh. An architect by training and educator by choice, he focuses on sustainable, human-centric, and climate-responsive design. Holding a Master’s in Architecture from Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, Germany, and a Bachelor of Architecture from BUET, Rafat’s academic and professional journey bridges environmental sensitivity with urban responsibility. His teaching emphasizes passive design strategies that minimize carbon footprint through natural light and ventilation, while his research explores block housing as an alternative to plot-based development for greater social, financial, and environmental balance in Dhaka’s dense urban fabric. Passionate about innovation in design education, he also integrates AI as a co-intelligence partner in studio learning to enhance creativity and critical thinking.