1,720,969 research outputs found
Quest for Architectural Identity of Pakistan: Ideological Shifts in the Works of Kamil Khan Mumtaz
Full text linkPakistan has a rich cultural history, originating from the pre-historic civilizations that flourished thousands of years ago. Before ultimately becoming an independent country in 1947, the prolific lands that are now part of present-day Pakistan, at one time or another, experiencedthe rule of Hindus, Buddhists, Greeks, Arabs, Mughals, Afghans, Sikhs, and British. Despite having such a diverse heritage, the contemporary architecture of this country appears to have lost its cultural and regional identity. Due to globalization and standardization, buildings of multiple architectural styles are visible throughout the country without any consideration of the context in terms of time and place. Such architecture is unable to evoke any connection between people, society, and culture. It is, therefore, unsustainable in its social, economic, cultural, and environmental frameworks. Most of the contemporary architects in Pakistan imitate the West, without the understanding of their own roots, yet frequently question the architectural identity of this region. Focusing on the architectural works of the renowned contemporary architect Kamil Khan Mumtaz, this paper attempts to analyze how such questions on architectural identity can be answered. Kamil Khan Mumtaz is among the most prominent figures of the architectural profession in Pakistan. A recent recipient of the prestigious Sitara-e-Imtiaz award, he aspiringly synthesizes both pragmatic and philosophical facets of architecture. Throughout his career, he has been breaking new ground in the conservation of architectural heritage, in addition to discovering and endorsing the principles used in the historic buildings of Pakistan. Through the study of Kamil Khan’s significant works, this paper explores the Architect’s professional journey, beginning as a trained Modernist, and then avidly shifting towards regionalism and traditionalism. It outlines the discourse by mapping the works in three distinctive phases of Kamil Khan’s professional life and discusses the shift in his architectural ideology through time which was, in fact, a quest for an “Architectural Identity” in search of a more appropriate architectural expression for Pakistan
The Interpretation of “Interiority” through Research in Design Context of Public Space Exploring the Continuity of Interior into Urban (or Exterior) and Vice Versa
No full textThe term “interiority” means inner character or subjectivity and adhere to the vocabulary of confinement, enclosure, privacy, shelter, etc. In the architectural discourse, the notion of interiority has been frequently used to refer to conscious awareness, individuality, subjectivity, along with the inherent characteristic of the interior, besides the description of the nature of certain urban or exterior spaces. As a prospect to retort to various design questions of public space, this paper attempts to interpret interiority where it is formed by many conditions such as psychological, environmental, spatial, formal, programmatic, or a combination of all. With an assumption that interiority is a shared underlying aspect contributing towards the effective public qualities, some key instances of urban public space have been discussed and synthesized to illustrate the potential paradigm of the design practice. For further research, the paradigm will be “reversed”, in the realm of interior public spaces, as complex settings with a continuous flow of space, surfaces, forms, and voids, beyond architectural façade, through a blurred threshold between interior and urban (or exterior)
DIS(-)POSITION OF PRO(-)POSITION: URBAN INTERIORITY AS SPATIAL CONTINUUM
No full textEmerging design-driven (exploratory) research methodologies focus on drawing comparative relationships between identified elements, aspects, or phenomena. In this context, ‘dispositioning’ is an effective process for searching, questioning, and developing a nuanced understanding of relational complexities. This doctoral research moves in a symmetrical direction and ‘positions’ into the distinct paradigm of the conjunction of urban and interior realms. However, it does not set upon differences and contrasts but instead identifies similarities―overcoming polarities, developing relations, establishing connections, and fostering continuities. The research proposition “urban interiority as spatial continuum” transcends the conventional oppositions of space: inside/outside, urban/interior, and public/private.
Design research profoundly relies on the visualization and representation of hypothesized concepts, with designers and design researchers bringing their own perceptions to interpret visual information. While subjectivity influences outcomes, it can be neutralized if every observer reads the space through specific lenses or spectacles. Therefore, this research constructs a set of lenses to explore urban interiority’s spatial formations beyond conventional understandings of space and recognize the intertwined nature of urban and interior conditions. The methodology includes the ‘dis(-)position’ of the ‘pro(-)position’ in a structured and strategic manner through ‘o(-)positioning’ in the contemporary architectural field of urban-interior. Subsequently, it relies on the ‘com(-)position’ of a (visual) design taxonomy to elaborate the lenses. It involves organizing and categorizing data to enhance understanding of the theoretical framework by identifying recurring patterns of spatial practices. This categorization allows for a comprehensive and structured presentation of visual narratives by developing people-centric drawings to illustrate the interaction between people, objects, and space
ARA Syllabus - Urban and Interior Public Spaces
No full textInstead of the narrative of loss, decline and reduced publicness, my research is an attempt to trace the distinct narrative that exults the paradigm of public space, as a continuity of urban (streets and squares) into interior (e.g., POPS). The traditional dialogue between the public and private, urban and interior is transforming drastically, approaching the notion that public space is not necessarily entirely public nor utterly private. The main objective of this paper is to explore the transformation of public spaces in the global cities with a focus on Lahore, Pakistan, while considering the paradigm shift of territoriality, interiority, and retail-isation of public spaces
Reclaiming Public Spaces amidst COVID-19 Pandemic: Tactical Urbanism as a ‘Resilience’ Response
Full text linkSeveral cities were struck by the global COVID-19 pandemic in the year 2020. The rapid and hazardous spread of the crisis resulted in a profound urban transformation, changing the fundamentals of urban living. This research provides a perspective regarding the vulnerability and resilience of cities, particularly their public spaces. Public spaces, a significant component of the urban realm, remained fundamental in transforming cities during the pandemic. Implementing radical measures to minimize the spread of the virus and adopting emergency plans to resist the subsequent socioeconomic collapse demonstrated the varying yet synchronized stance on resilience. Two key approaches are used to pursue the concept of resilience as a strategic framework for public spaces. These include a balancing or bounce-back approach, which supports the idea of ‘return to normal’. The other is an evolutionary or bounce-forward tactic, characterized by adaptive capacity and transformation. This research reflects on the adaptive capacity of ‘resilience’ in public spaces, in which ‘tactical urbanism’ as an effective tool is used to create flexible, low-cost, and temporary design strategies to achieve public health goals and urban sustainability. It also discusses the examples of tactical interventions in public spaces during the pandemic and manifests the strength of temporary tactics to bring long-term change. The research concludes by proposing a new paradigm for public space planning, associating tactical urbanism and incorporating the evolutionary or adaptive capacity of resilience. The discussed strategies instil a vision for designing resilient public spaces for highly anticipated future pandemics and other hazards
Manifestations of Urban Interiority in Delhi Gate Bazaar of Lahore
Full text linkIn the contemporary debate, the notion of interiority has expanded beyond the confines of the interior, in the urban realm, as a conjunction of urban and interior conditions. This article aims to contribute to the discourse, using the lens of urban interiority to explore the unique spatial character and distinct cultural practices in Lahore’s Delhi Gate Bazaar. The bazaar exists on a linear passageway, the Royal Trail, as a network of interior, exterior, and in-between spaces—establishing a spatial continuum by blurring the boundaries between the public and private and uninterrupted flow of spaces from outside to inside. This urban space has a strong sense of history, culture, and traditions; constructing personal and collective engagement through modes of space inhabitation and appropriation. These practices include temporal improvisation and modification of certain aspects for everyday use and environmental alteration for achieving thermal comfort, along with synchronised occurrences of cultural traditions and commercial activities. This article interprets observations through drawings to describe the experience of space through gradations of interiority and transition through thresholds, constructing visual narratives of diverse uses, activities, and the interaction between people, objects, and space
Quest for Identity: Traditional Architecture and Globalization
No full textThroughout history, people, places, and regions developed unique characteristics that are meticulously knotted to the notion of “identity”. A place is not only a physical space, but exists in people’s memories and evokes emotions, experiences, and associations. Prevalent cultural responses to the region’s geographic and environmental characteristics, establish an identity of a place that lies at the root of traditional and sustainable practices. “Tradition” is different from “heritage” in the way that an entire legacy, including those aspects which may no longer exist in present practice or may never have become integrated into the popular culture, is still a part of heritage. While tradition is passed on from one generation to the other, based on its own deep-rooted culture and acquires a common identity.
The south-Asian region underwent a loss of identity with the appointment of the “International” style, followed by globalization. The standardization of designs and construction methods relinquished regional and cultural veracities of a place. The employment of new technologies, industry-produced materials, advanced construction methods and adoption of western styles are deemed as an indication of economic growth and socio-cultural development. Pakistan, which originated in the pre-historic civilization of the Indus valley, possesses a rich cultural and architectural heritage. The predominant dialect has remained to be quite diverse, as it is related to various periods in history, especially to indigenous cultural and architectural countenance.
This research is a quest for identity of regions with a rich heritage and traditions, in response to the changing cultural values and standardization of architectural practices due to globalization. Through an exemplary case study of HarSukh Mansion in Lahore, designed by Kamil Khan Mumtaz, we analyse the role of traditional values associated with history, aesthetics, artistic principles and authenticity in modern-day living to understand how the community relates to its cultural and social processes in contemporary times. Har Sukh Mansion is a residential complex with three individual dwelling units opening into a courtyard and a public zone comprising of an open court, teaching studios and hostel facility. The functional spaces are designed to meet modern-day living requirements, such as independent rooms with privacy, a semi-covered swimming pool, an air conditioning system, lighting fixtures and solar panels. By using local building materials, brick and lime mortar, and traditional construction methods and design principles, it recreates an ambience of a traditional haveli (courtyard house). The traditional design vocabulary of domes, arches, and muqarnas (ornamented vaulting) are incorporated harmoniously with modern-day living; it epitomizes reclaiming the lost cultural identity of the region through the reconciliation of tradition and modernity
Comparative Cost Analysis of the Contemporary Residences
No full textIn this research, we analyze the economic sustainability through comparative cost analysis of the two contemporary residences of Lahore, Pakistan, built with contrasting materials and techniques. The first selected house is built using modern construction materials such as reinforced concrete, cement, steel, and brick; constructed in 9” and 4 1⁄2” thick walls, and 6” RCC flat slab; with the architectural design following the western model of detached/ semi-detached family house with enclosed rooms with low ceiling height. The second selected residence is a traditional courtyard house constructed with vernacular building materials: lime mortar and brick, without any industry-produced materials; using traditional techniques of making arches, domes, and muqarnas, having thicker walls, elevated ceilings, and roofs with mud insulation.
Adequate evidence exists that industry-produced building materials, such as cement, concrete, and steel are not environmentally friendly with a higher carbon footprint, whilst the use of vernacular materials and indigenous techniques is a way towards sustainable development. We also considered other economic aspects such as time constraints, labour requirements, additional resource management, etc. This assessment will lead the stakeholders including the client, designer, and builder to consider an alternative approach of using traditional materials and methods while taking into account their long-term impacts
History and evolution of the healing gardens: Investigating the building-nature relationship in the healthcare setting
No full textHealing gardens, a longstanding feature of medical institutions, have garnered attention from scholars for their health-promoting properties across various stages of research. Through a historical literature review and contemporary case analysis of healing gardens, this research investigates how to achieve therapeutic integration by fostering effective connections between buildings and nature through typological design. Combined with qualitative and design-driven research methodologies, including the use of visualization tools such as drawings, models, and images, six models of building-nature integration in contemporary healthcare architecture are identified. This article bridges a research gap in the field of healing garden design and concludes by demonstrating that “typology” is only a design strategy according to context and building performance. In addition to positions of healing gardens, critical factors such as spatial organization, aesthetics, and sustainability, incorporating elements such as accessibility, readability, comfort, and ecological factors, must be carefully considered to achieve integration
The [Socio-Cultural] Production of Space. Doorstep: Exploring Threshold in Non-Western Contexts
No full textThe ‘doorstep’ is a threshold space with a purpose, where meaning flows through, transforming mediation volumes into actual places. Distinct spatial characteristics make it a ‘third’ space, which embraces the tension between opposites (inside/outside and public/private). It unfolds socio-cultural possibilities of collective living, constructing a unique experience as one crosses, pauses, or uses it. It is a space that is intermediate and indeterminate (or ambiguous) but possesses specific social constructs and particular cultural meanings. The research on cross-cultural meanings and significance of doorstep is intriguing due to its depth and multifarious complexity, illustrating the rich diversity of human culture and traditions. In Western contexts, the doorstep primarily implies a boundary between the private inside and the public outside, marking the transition from the individual domain (home) to the collective realm of the street. Whereas, in non-Western contexts, the doorstep carries additional cultural significance - serving as a gathering place for collective engagement, as a space for cultural practices such as storytelling or communal meals, or where rituals and ceremonies are performed to protect the home from negative influences, or which simply signifies the social status of the residents.
The article provides insights into the varied perceptions, uses, cultural significance, and linguistic nuances associated with threshold space (doorstep) in two non-Western but dissimilar contexts. The socio-cultural manifestation of the doorstep in Lahore, the tharra enriches the urban fabric as mediating spaces, extending dwellings onto the streets. Tharra(s) serve as dynamic hubs for social interactions and cultural practices, daytime activities for women, and evening gatherings for men – a modest element that personifies various meanings and performs several functions – epitomising accessibility and inclusivity of the collective realm. Meanwhile, the menkan in Chinese culture goes beyond its practical function, symbolising the significance of solitude and traditional Chinese culture’s hierarchical order. It symbolises wealth and power and serves as a silent code of conduct, emphasising politeness, whereas it is not utilised as a space for sitting or engaging in activities, as it is believed to bring about bad fortune. Regional variations in the doorstep’s size, materials, and colours reflect economic and socio-cultural differences
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