Multi Functional Complex Design with Skyscraper.

Response to a much needed multi functional urban amenity in an architecturally rich language (composition) to enhance human experience (scale/ function).

Site: Main Queens Road, Opp Bahria Complex, adjacent to Container Yard, Karachi, Pakistan.

Elements and Considerations of Design:

Didactic expression of function
Compositional juxtaposition (of solid and void)
Climatic consideration (north light, cantilevers on south side)
Human scale (Plazas)
Spaces activated by function (Roof, gym,swimming pool, etc)

On descending the KPT flyover ramp adjacent to the site, one experiences the passage of time by a rhythm of solid and void.
Architecturally, the wheel of time is expressed as a sequence of juxtaposed solids and voids, with a variety of pauses, scales, changes in the quality of light and in the structural expression.
The dynamic relationships of spaces create a dynamic energy among the solids and voids, thebuilt and unbuilt.
One can cross a threshold into another space, another time, and another phase of psychological and spiritual experience. Walls, Columns, Surfaces, Rhythms, Light, etc are architectural elements that can activate the spaces.
The varied sizes, scales and typologies of the open and semi-open courtyards extend the vision from the man-made to the sky.
Other than physical architectural linkages, the visual, emotional and psychological connections have been expressed and can contribute to the popular appeal of this complex.

(Images shall be uploaded soon)

Traditional Architecture of Karachi

The exceptional position, not only in Pakistan but in the world. The silence and the community life. Public architecture demonstrating a capacity to assimilate different faiths and styles in order to create new aesthetic qualities without any precedence. The metropolitan nature of the city, the amalgamation of cultures and beliefs resulting in spaces and buildings based on their needs and styles.
Influences from the world on the living culture of Karachi, come from all parts of the world. The misconceptions of trend or fashion being culture have caused a havoc in defining culture itself. Therefore, a brief understanding on the meaning of culture needs to be out forward, before setting foot in the field of researching the traditional architecture of any place.
Man evolved the form of shelter through the ages, starting from a cave to tent to mud houses to the present concrete jungle. The wants of man have developed through the years, which may have caused some to lose sense of what is 'needed'.
A variety of styles surrounds us in the city of lights, which one describes Karachi?
What is the traditional/ vernacular architecture of Karachi ?

Kite Runner - a review

" Kite Runner" - by Khalid Hosseini

Other Comments:

"Awakens curiosity about the world around us"

"The grace of acceptance heals the wounds of brutality, for with forgiveness anything is possible, event he joy of soaring kites against a winter sky"

Reviewer: Zainab

The elaborate details the author gives around characters, sights and sounds of the events of this boy's life make it an enjoyable read The most interesting thing however, is the local words used in the book which are meant to be Persian but we use these words so commonly in Urdu that it feels you can associate with the happenings described. The story is set two-three decades ago and describes the events in this boy's life, one of which affects him and shakes him up thoroughly.


About the Writer:

A novelist and physician originally from Afghanistan, who is currently a citizen of the United States, writes from his childhood memories, sharing his personal experiences with readers around the globe.

Response:

Unlike the Harry Potter series where you instantly fall in love with the protagonist, no matter how much effort you make to like Amir, the main character, I just cannot forgive him for what he did to his friend.

Comment:

Take this book up as your bed time companion for a couple of days!

Blink- a review

"Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking" - by Malcolm Gladwell

Other Comments:

"A real pleasure.... Blink brims with surprising insights about our world and ourselves"

"Royally entertaining"

"A really fun ride"

Reviewer: Zainab

Blink is about the power of the brain to make quick decisions subconsciously. This ability of the brain, he refers to as "Thin Slicing", is shown how it can come in handy to make split second decision about an impertinent danger and how it can be corrupted by prejudices or preset perceptions about something or someone and too much information.

The book explains how experts reach a decision that an artifact of a museum is not as authentic as the scientific evidences claim it to be, rather, decide that is fake by just by the first look at it and their sixth sense telling them that something is not right about it. There are other short cases described in the book which talk about how thin slicing can be used to judge how a tennis player is about to make double faults or whether a marriage of a couple will be intact after 10 years.

About the Writer:
Malcolm Gladwell is an English journalist by profession and "The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference" is one of his best known works.

Response:

After reading the book, you will find the concept amazing but you will be thirsty for rules, tips or advices in the book for thin slicing. The book gives you all those cases and events but leaves the reader to act himself.

Comment:

I would recommend Blink because I feel that I now realize how powerful my brain is. How in various situations, it can make decisions subconsciously while I may not even know. I would encourage you to read about it and relate to your experience of thin slicing as you read the events described in the book.

The Alchemist - a review

The Alchemist - by Paulo Coelho

Other Comments:

"Skillfull combination of words of wisdom, philosophy, and simplicity of meaning and language, which makes it particularly readable and accounts for its bestselling status."



Reviewer: Zainab

A book that explores dreams and the courage to follow them, leading to adventurous journeys of self-discovery. The book revolves around dreams, symbols, signs, adventures and the ultimate destiny. A story told as people want to hear it, a story told as people wish for it to be, but never thought possible.

About the Writer:

The writer presents his thoughts magically in each of his stories, delivering hidden messages of morality, simplicity, truth and passion in them.

Response:

The kind of novel that tells you that everything is possible as long as you really want it to happen.


Comment:

A reading that urges people to follow their dreams.

The BFG - a review

The BFG- Roald Dahl

Other comments:

"Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake are uncanny in their understanding of what children like to read and see. Thus some adults will be intensely offended."

Reviewer: Zainab
A nightly routine, for a big friendly giant, of catching good dreams and blowing them into children's ears,is threatened by bigger, meaner giants, so he and an orphan girl embark on an adventure to thwart the bad guys.

About the writer:
A writer who tells the tales of his childhood in a magical manner, putting his wonderful memories and dreams on paper for other children to enjoy!

Response:
An occasional humorous finger poked at the established habits of the world should harm no one and delight many.

Comment:
Appealing to a child's sense of justice and humor.

Canvas of Modern Masters - a review

"Canvas of Modern Masters" by Balakrishna Doshi

Other Comments:

"Enigmatic and dynamic"


"Rationally justifiable"

Reviewer: Zainab

I see in this book, an attitude to architecture, that of fusing life in totality, a life which is not only in constant flux, but is also like a flowing river, searching ways to meet the ocean of eternity.

About the Architect:

An Indian architect, who has been instrumental in establishing the nationally and internationally known research institute. A matured architect, learning over the years, from his constant observation, assimilation and interpretation of the Indian vernacular and classical archtiecture. His work is at the same time modern as well as traditional. An educationist and academician, viable to modern Indian architecture.

Response:

No better a measure of architecture, than time.

Comment:
To learn, observe and continue with the life cycle, culture and tradition of a place. Not to interfere, but to take forward.

Give time a break- a review

"GIVE TIME A BREAK" by Architect Balakrishna Doshi (1998)

Other Comments:

"Architecture of Independence: The Making of Modern South Asia"

"Instrumental in establishing the nationally and internationally known research institute"

Reviewer: Zainab

This book once read, becomes a thing of the past, a memory, and yet the concepts in it live on, in the sub conscious, where the perception of time and space is transformed, even though the physical space remains the same.

About the Architect:

An indian architect who has been fortunate enough to have worked with two of the modern masters of Architecture, Le Corbusier and Louis Isidore Kahn. All three architects have brought about notable changes in the developing countries, giving them a chance to be identified in the world.
Architect Balakrishna Doshi an academician and educator, designs with considerations of climate, traditions , the social customs and the philosophy of life of the people.
Designing with environmental and urban concerns make him unique, as both a thinker and teacher. His understanding of architectural scale and massing, as well as the clear sense of space and community, mark most of his work. making his work the most important models for modern Indian architecture.

Response:

The architecture of time and space.

Comment:

For the young architect looking ahead to his future, a must read in order to understand and learn from the past, living in the present .

Stardust

A wild-eyed promise to the prettiest girl in the village brings a young boy to a supernatural
parallel universe, which lies just on the other side of his hometown. He finds himself in a
kingdom of unending magic and unfolding legends. The promise of retrieving a star for his love is a promise not new to many loving couples, but the fantastical discovery of the fallen star being a spirited young woman gives the true flavor to the plot of the movie. A star, desired by many for its magical powers puts the young boy's bravery to test. In his journey against many rivals, he finds himself fallen for the star, and this true love unravels the secret key to his own identity and a fate beyond his wildest dreams.
A FANTAStYical movie, much needed in the fast moving world of today!
A beautiful reminder of the good old Disney times!

Dark Knight

The begining of the movie to the very end; the writer, directors and the actors have done a brilliant job in keeping the audience hung on each scene. With the exhilirating stunt-work, fight scenes and dialogues, every actor gets his moment!
Christian Bale is surely the man for the role! and he unfailingly proves it yet again in this movie. But Heath Ledger's acting is beyond all praise! A villain who because of his acting, becomes a hero, for me. A complex and a menacing character pulled off as a perfect performance.
The plot of the movie as usual revolves around the idealogy of good vs evil, but the conclusion, the unexpected twist to it, brings the movie up to an entirely different rating level.
An action movie, dipped in full throttle ! A must watch!
"Why so serious! "

Space when time stops

The ignored architectural elements, whose only functions are to break the circle of time, to allow for an opportunity to pause, meander, or just to go astray. Because time can stop. And when time is still, we can discover the joys of getting lost in space, in time, or in a place, effacing the traces of a linear stressful life by registering the changing nuances of shadows and rhythms, or the sound of falling rain or the smell of flowers.

This is This and That is That

This is This
and
That is That
but also
This is That
and
That is This
because This at some point will become That
and That will then obviously become This

comprende!