Searching for identity : the approaches of three Pakistani architects

This thesis attempts to deal with some of the major issues relating to Pakistani architecture today as well as the consequent development of an architectural identity. In order to establish the framework for the study various discourses that reflect on the notion of identity have been examined. Due to the lack of an indigenous architectural discourse, and the consequent absence of critically rigorous information on the subject, this work is devoted to augmenting the very limited material available on the state of the architectural profession in Pakistan and to increasing an awareness of the directions that this architecture is presently taking. As a means of furthering an understanding of architecture in Pakistan the first part of this thesis provides some information on the development of architecture in Pakistan both in terms of historical evolution as well as through the development of educational institutions such as The National College of Arts. The rest of the work deals with the existing and emerging 'directions' (in Pakistani architecture) as they are manifested in the projects of several influential architects. The three architects chosen for this study and whose work best represents the current range of architecture in Pakistan are; Habib Fida Ali, one of the most experienced and respected architects in Karachi, who having studied at the Architectural Association is a strong proponent of the modern aesthetic. Habib Fida Ali represents the 'modern' current that runs through Pakistani architecture.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Architecture.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

1990

Author dc:creator

• Khan, Nadir Mohammad

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• William Porter.

• Architecture.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/67394

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/67394