What started out as a humble fishing village, Karachi is now one of the most populated and the largest revenue....
art & architecture
What started out as a humble fishing village, Karachi is now one of the most populated and the largest revenue-generating city of the country. A hub of diverse cultures, countless spoken languages, brilliant architectural heritage, and a rich history, it is the beating heart of the Pakistan. A large number of immigrants have settled here seeking refuge from either regional conflicts or economic deprivation, which has caused the city to grow rapidly from a population of one million in 1950 to the current figure of almost 20 million.
This influx has also expanded the city of lights with regulated, but often, unregulated development patterns. While Karachi boasts a demographic much diverse than that of New York, there is a severe lack of open spaces that could be used for social activity or even nature, caused by the informal settlements peppered around the city. The narrow corridors created in the urban fabric of the city, these little spaces have now become a source of interaction and social activity for the communities surrounding them.
The Venice Biennale is one of the most talked about events on the architectural calendar. With a history of over 120 years, it is known to be an Oscar equivalent in the area of design. The prestigious event has opened its doors to architects, designers, and visitors from all around the globe to witness the pavilions and installations that tackle this year’s theme: ‘Freespace’. The curators, Irish architects Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara of Grafton Architects, described the theme as “a focus on architecture’s ability to provide free and additional spatial gifts to those who use it and on its ability to address the unspoken wishes of strangers, providing the opportunity to emphasise nature’s free gifts of light - sunlight and moonlight, air, gravity, materials-natural and man-made resources.”
This time around, at the 16th International Architecture Exhibition, Khaadi, Pakistan’s premier lifestyle brand has sponsored the National Pavilion of Pakistan, under the title, ‘The Fold’. In what will be the country’s first ever national pavilion to have debuted at this platform, it will proudly showcase Pakistani culture alongside other world renowned design houses, artists, and architects.
‘The Fold’ is organised by a Karachi-based multidisciplinary design practice Coalesce Design Studio and the Dubai-based Antidote Art & Design that works with emerging artists and designers. The exhibition is curated by Sami Chohan and a design team comprising of Bilal Kapadia, Durreshahwar Alvi, Mustafa Mehdi, Salman Jawed, and Zeba Asad. The pavilion design takes its inspiration from the physical and social dimensions of the open spaces embedded within the densely-populated settlements that characterise the urban fabric of Karachi, Pakistan’s largest and most populated city.
The curator of the National Pavilion of Pakistan, Sami Chohan said, “Being featured at a National Pavilion is an honour for any architect or designer and this opportunity will help us promote a softer, more artistic side of Pakistan at a global level.” In an interview with an online design platform, Chohan further explains the pavilion design, “It takes inspiration from the tangible and intangible qualities of open spaces embedded within the numerous informal settlements of Karachi. Despite confined physical conditions, these spaces remain full of life and vitality, making enough room for everyone through an overwhelming sense of community that builds and thrives on consensus. Layered with ideas of limitation and interdependence, our proposal echoes these qualities, inviting visitors to comprehend ‘freespace’ as a consequence of unity, mutuality and harmony.”
Architecture is supposed to benefit everyone. Its purpose is to give shelter and lift our spirits. While a house offers shelter and protection, a beautiful wall or courtyard is for our heart and mind. It is the play of light, sun, shade, moon, air, wind, gravity in ways that reveal the mysteries of the world. Regardless of how small or big a space is and despite its limitations, architecture can bridge the gap between people and places. This is what ‘freespace’ is all about.
The biennale commenced on May 26th and will continue till November 25th.
