Architecture ... Fann e Tameer
I have been noticing one thing about Karachi for the last few days. Noticing, contemplating, understanding and analysing. I have been in the car a lot for the last few days and have been to most different parts of the city for one reason or the other. It is the architecture, the architectural trends and the architectural philosophy in the city.

I was seeing two things. The architecture based on time. And the architecture based on location. Broadly speaking I noticed the architecture in Defence, Society, Gulshan, Nazimabad and North Nazimabad during this week since I was spending a lot of time in these areas. They represent Karachi's upper and middle class areas from the 50s upto now. Nazimabad is a middle class locality with houses mainly built during the 50s and 60s. North Nazimabad is an upper middle class locality with houses built in the 70s. Society is an upper class locality with houses built in the 70s. Defence in an upper class locality with houses built in the 90s. Gulshan is a middle class locality with houses built in the 80s.

Houses in Nazimabad are very interesting to see. Most of them have names according to the tradition brought by the muslim immigrants from India. A large number of these houses has the circular room with windows on the whole walls that was used as a drawing room earlier on. No walls were left blank with designs or shapes made to cover up the walls. Also, houses at that time were built to be very environmentally sound. They used to be very airy and bright. The natural strong western breeze in Karachi was used in the contruction to make the houses "machines to live in". The grills on the windows were very well designed. Although all the houses in this are are showing signs of age and neglect but this is still my favourite hotbed of architecture in Karachi.

Houses in North Nazimabad and Society are made with a ruler. There are straight lines and edges and lots of them. Large plain walls with white or some other light colour as paint are very common. So is the use of balconies. What is very different is that the common idea of the 50s and 60s to have curves and not to leave a wall blank have been completely removed. But the environmentally sound approach is still there. Houses have big windows and large grills for airy and bright houses. Even my house is nearly open to the wind at all times and that is what keeps the house cool. They present a cleaner picture with light colours and straight lines. Again the concept was to make the house a living machine by making it comfortable. Functionality was given preference to aesthetics. While aesthetics were not ignored, they were the secondary focus.

Houses in Defence are built with a more western touch. They are much more aesthetically appealing and much more pleasing to the eyes. They are also status symbols and hence have seen large amounts of money spent on them. But the philosophy changes here with aesthetics taking precedence over functionality. In place of the western breeze and the sunlight we now have airconditioners and tube lights. The architecture is that prevalent in the US and Europe which are basically cool climates but not in accordance with the particular weather of Karachi. This element makes it seem slightly architecturally unsound.

For me two things are very important when the contruction of a residential area is taken into view. The first would be a touch of our culture. A gumbad or a minar or a mihrab somewhere that tells you where the house is coming from. The second would be functionality. The house should use all the elements to make the residents as conformatable as possible with as natural things as possible. Karachi has the most wonderful western breeze. If a house is constructed properly this can be used to keep houses so cool that airconditions would not be needed at all. Also I like bright sunlit houses and not ones with electrical lights. They just dont make a proper alternative. It is not only about enviornmentally sound but also about health and hygiene.

Well at least we all know what kind of house i will make if I ever get to make one.
- posted by aalahazrat @ 15:29