The Studio Workshop was sponsored by the HEC (Higher Education Commission).
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Ar. Shahab Ghani khan |
Dr. Arshad Ali |
Prof.Musarrat Hussain Shah |
Ar. Qayyum khan |
Speaking on the occasion as the Chief Guest, Ar. Shahab Ghani Khan, Chairman Pakistan Council of Architects and Town Planners (PCATP) said that no such effort was ever made in past at such a large scale to gather all schools at one place. He appreciated the efforts of the Abbotabad Campus of NWFP University of Engineering and Technology for introducing the concept of Architectural Summer Studio at national level. He said that it was the ever first opportunity for the students of various schools of architecture to meet at one place and participate in such a long workshop.
Ar. Shahab Ghani hoped that being a new setup, the Abbotabad Campus would not have any ego problem while working with other institutions imparting architectural education in the country.
 "We at PCATP make sure to work with HEC and try to get funding for the institutions to conduct similar workshops and programs", said by the Chairman PCATP. Now with the enforcement of WTO and GATS etc., he said, lots of foreign consultants are coming to Pakistan and to compete with them we have to excel. He said that we can only excel if we focus on capacity building through such programs.
Earlier in his welcome speech, the Chairman, Department of Architecture, NWFP UET, Campus Abbotabad, Dr. Arshad Ali said that his Department has taken a step forward to bring closer all architectural institutions of Pakistan under one platform known as "Design Discovery Pakistan (DDP)" led by the Department of Architecture, NWFP UET. He informed the audience that DDP is holding its first activity as a Summer Studio titled
"Future Work Places" in which a group of five students (grade three/four) and one professor from all architectural institutions around the nation are invited to participate in the studio which is duly sponsored by the HEC.
At this occasion he also announced the establishment of a Virtual Graduate School of Architecture at the Department of Architecture NWFP UET. Dr. Arshad Ali said that Department of Architecture NWFP UET and Graduate School of Architecture, MSU (Missisipi State University) USA have already developed an understanding of overtaking research activities under PAK-US Joint Academic & Research Program and establishing a Virtual Graduate School of Architecture is the first step taken under this joint venture.
Dr. Ali further said that DDP has invited three foreign experts including Dr. Larry Barrow Missisipi State University USA, Ar. Daniel Treinen, New York, USA and Ar. Shaima Ghazi Al Arayedh to the studio for knowledge sharing purpose.
Addressing the audience, the coordinator of the Campus, Prof. Musarrat Hussain Shah said that that Abbotabad Campus is the remote campus of NWFP University, Peshawar which was established three years ago and now has grown up remarkably. He further said that they are trying to improve the facilities and faculty with the grants of HEC and through their university. He hoped that other institutions will also follow their efforts in pursuing to reach the highest level of education in the country.
Ar. Qayyum Khan, Chairman IAP Peshawar Chapter and Executive Committee Member of PCATP also spoke on the occasion and shared with the audience his efforts which he made to hire highly qualified faculty at the Department.
Ar. Shabbirullah Qureshi, Faculty member gave an overview of the department and its activities and told the audience about struggle story.
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| Some of the Projects designed by Ar. Daniel Treinen at Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates PC |
Ar. Daniel Treinen who specially flew from New York to attend the launching ceremony of the Studio made a presentation of his work which was highly appreciated by the participants.
As an associate of KPF - Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates PC, Daniel Treinen has designed a large number of architectural projects of various nature and scale in over thirty countries around the world. His work was a clear example of diversity achieved through precedents, focusing on details and use of latest technologies.
As an associate of KPF - Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates PC, Daniel Treinen has designed a large number of architectural projects of various nature and scale in over thirty countries around the world. His work was a clear example of diversity achieved through precedents, focusing on details and use of latest technologies.
His work comprised of mixed use projects, corporate headquarters, transportation, educational, health care, Government and Retail clients.
He said that his company focuses on using local, regional and historical precedents while making a balanced combination of traditional and modern day global practice.
Quoting Louis Kahn; "god is in the details.", Daniel said that he meticulously focuses on each and every detail of all design elements used in his work.
Following Daniel's presentation of very high tech work, Ar. Qayyum Khan made a presentation of his own work mostly done in NWFP. Ar. Qayyum Khan's work has a very significant character with the innovative use of locally produced bricks.
Both presentations were followed up by Question-Answer session and then participants were invited to lunch having melodious music of 'rabab' , local musical instrument in the background.
''Future Work Places'' 2-week International Summer Studio at Abbotabad Campus
 Design Discovery Pakistan (DDP )is a research based design development academic program to explore various venues of improving the architectural design and profession at national level. In order to bring closer all architectural institutions of Pakistan under one platform, the department of architecture, NWFP University of Engineering & Technology (Abbotabad Campus) has taken a step forward by establishing 'Design Discovery Pakistan' known as DDP. From the platform of DDP, the Abbotabad Campus is committed to hold activities such as workshops/ studios/ seminars/ conferences etc. as a regular and revolving activity in various parts of the country with the help of other departments and schools imparting architectural education throughout Pakistan by engaging them and giving them an opportunity to be the host of those workshops/ studios.
DDP launched its very first activity in the month of July 2007 and invited various institutions of architecture from all over Pakistan to a 2-week International Summer Studio on the theme of 'Future Work Places' from July 02-14, 2007 at Abbotabad Campus of NWFP UET. With the sponsorship of Higher Education Commission (HEC), the DDP invited five students of grade three/four and one teaching faculty from all architectural institutions.
DDP also invited three foreign experts including Dr. Larry R Barrow from Mississippi State University USA, Ar. Daniel Treinen from New York, USA and Ar. Shaima Ghazi Al Arayedh from University of Bahrain to the studio for knowledge sharing purpose.
The purpose of the studio was to bring all architecture institutions under one platform and race together for the learning and inquiring quest.
Five students and one teaching faculty from nine institutions of architecture in Pakistan were invited for the studio. Six of them accepted the invitation whereas three institutions declined due to their other pre commitments including University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, Dawood College of Engineering and Technology, Karachi and COMSATS institute, Lahore. A total number of 37 students and 06 faculty members participated in the program and were facilitated by the Abbotabad Campus with the help of Higher Education Commission – HEC
Following institutions participated in the program:
Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, Karachi (01 student and 01 faculty)
v Karachi University, Karachi (06 students and 01 faculty)
Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro (07 students and 01 faculty)
National College of Arts, Lahore 06 students and 01 faculty))
v NED University of Engineering and Technology Karachi
(12 students and 02 faculty)
v NWFP University of Engineering and Technology, Campus Abbotabad (05 students)
After the opening ceremony, the instructors from different institutions had a meeting with the organizing team led by Dr. Arshad Ali, Chairman Department of Architecture, NWFP, UET and formed six groups out of 37 participating students from various schools. Each group of 6 members had a good mix of students belonging to various institutions so that they come up with diverse ideas and make use of the opportunity.
Each team had an instructor to guide them throughout the project and to provide them with food for thought. The instructors distributed a curriculum and time schedule among their group members.
Prior to commencing work on the assigned projects, the DDP team arranged a site visit to Nathiagali for all participants of the Summer Studio on July 3, 2007. Ar. Tahir Khattak took them around the site and provid ed them relevant information of local authorities and its bye-laws. All groups were provided with the site plan copies in the studio in digital format.
In a very favorable environment, all groups were provided with all necessary equipment and stationery to work out their design solutions which included drafting tables, set squares and t scales etc. A compatible IT facility was made available to them in the studio including latest computer systems loaded with required softwares and hardware, fast speed internet connection for browsing, printers and plotters for preparing presentations. All arrangements were made to facilitate students to conduct any field work within Abbotoabad or in the vicinity.
Project: To design a Resort cum Workplace in Nathiagali
GROUP A Instructor: Ar. Zain Mankani
 Ar. Zain Mankani initiated the process by first letting the students to know about his views as in there is no physical restriction between the working areas and dwelling units. He got them involved into the discussion by exploring their understanding about future work places. Students were asked to search for technology and materials for the project and also to draw a site section. During design process, the group considered following concepts as a basis to develop their building forms:
Concept No. 1
Tree was taken as a metaphor for designing the building. The building would spread out in a manner as a tree spreads i.e., starting from a central trunk, the primary branches spread out, and from those secondary and tertiary branches extend.
Concept No. 2
Leaf was taken as a metaphor. The concept remained at the literal level and even so it did not capture the formal characteristics of the leaf, such as its two-dimensional nature. The masses were suggested to be connected with bridges. Emphasis was on the function of the design.
Concept No. 3:
It had too many ideas rolled into one. The dominant metaphor was the helicopter. The building would be planned in such a way that two static zones (living and working) could be activated into one dynamic zone with three activities taking place - working, living and recreation. Inspiration came from futurism in form of technologies and things being mechanical.
Concept No. 4:
Concept was derived from the pine tree and was fairly symbolized. The analogy was between the evergreen nature of the tree and the always-at-work nature of the users of the building.
Concept No. 5:
The central idea was that the sun appears like a simple disc from a distance although there are complex physical and chemical reactions taking place inside. Similarly, the building should appear like a simple entity from afar, though from inside it would have a high-tech working environment.
Concept No. 6:
Balance between vertical and horizontal lines. Trees on the site would represent the vertical lines and the building would be designed along horizontal lines. The final product was, however, based on following concept:
Union of Opposites:
Formal Integration vs Formal Segregation
Modular vs Special
Public vs Private
Simplicity vs Complexity
Vertical vs Horizontal
Organic vs Manmade
Nature vs Architecture
Work vs Recreation
Project: To design a Work cum Dwelling Space for a high profile business entrepreneur using virtual overlay technique GROUP B Instructor: Ar. Sobia Kapad
GROUP B Instructor: Ar.Sobia Kapadi
 The intention of the project was to make students familiar with compact design with the intervention of future technologies and start a discourse between technology & context.
Students were asked to venture into the possibility of establishing a discourse between solid and void that exists in the context & human perception of space & time. They were required to explore physical, psychological & philosophical dimension of project. The instructor explained the architectural interpretation of the futuristic architecture & theories through referring Kisho Kurokawa's vision of 21st century life styles returning to nomadic culture, where people can live & work in the shorter time line, in a constant state of movement.
Students were told to develop alternatives of their concepts in terms of psychological impacts of design and analyze the factors that will be influencing architecture in a hi-tech world of industries and technology. Theories like complexity and chaos, cyber spaces and the influences of digital mediums on the contemporary postmodern architectural design practice were focused during case studies of the works of Zaha Hadid and Bernard Tschumi.
Students’ work on display was examined by other studio instructors whose comments were followed up by a discussion on the mediums of interpreting concepts. Sobia helped students to understand how to present their views and concepts with logic and rationale. Students were then assigned to develop a floor plan and final form and also to strengthen their concept with reasons and facts.
Following is the description about the formulation of the plan:
Unit 1
The first place… has been treated as a place of rest.
The location of this almost flat land looking towards the beautiful valley, made the students design the place for stimulation of mind & eye.
This unit has been treated as a deck of confronting with nature.
The dialogue between the site and unit needs to be created; hence the existing pathway or trek was enhanced by putting directional lines on the plan, extruding it in the z axis, giving a sense of wall.
Unit 2
 The place rests on the land itself. As if something is coming out from beneath.
The center point of the cross section, the knot, is something being portrayed in this unit Suspended in the air… a place camouflaged within trees. Structurally it was oriented in such a manner that it should become part of the tree
Unit 4
Caving in; the existing contours were studied & overlaid on of the concept of tree's year ring. This unit has been put on the highest point of the site, so as to enjoy the elevated feeling.
The movement pattern followed from Unit 1 to Unit 4, were worked out after analyzing the existing pattern of trees.
The final product presented following salient features:
Multipurpose, multi functional spaces
Creation of virtual spaces through provision of 3d interactive environment
Spatial arrangement and orientation considering the sun, wind, views, natural terrain.
v Sustainability in the use of technology
Project: To design the organization and building if a Pakisan Crafts Co-operative Center
GROUP C Instructor: Ar.Sameeta Ahmed
 A craftspersons' co-operative could help craftspersons to help themselves in doing these things, rather than wait for authorities or middlemen businessmen to help them get better wages or training.The realization driving the co-operative is this: - Culturally, Pakistan's crafts represent unique cultural traditions for the whole of our society, which must be preserved and documented to form the basis for a national heritage and identity. Economically, these crafts can be marketed for sustainability of the traditions, and self-reliance of the crafts persons the development of their communities, as well as national economic earnings.
 Students debated whether this would be a Northern Areas Crafts Co-Op or one for all of Pakistan? It was decided that more resources could be pooled together if all of Pakistan was included, and also since the problems of crafts people were the same in the different regions. Just like a European Union can have more success than one country alone. The group decided what exact functions were needed. Each student group member took on one function of the co-op which they were going to design for, and then finally all the areas would be combined to make the full building of the Centre. These were Public Gallery, Retail, Research and Documentation Office, Resource Centre, Training Room, Craftsperson Model Workshop.
 Students were taken to various sites like Taxila Museum and Siren Valley etc.to collect information of various kinds of local crafts that need to be revived.
The Group C finally proceeded towards design development of a 'Crafts Co-operative Centre" for the given site at Nathia-gali. The building form was inspired from the nature; 'Rising from the ground, the form presents the shape of a Pine' as described by the students.
They also explored the possibility of installing a 'fog collector' unit to overcome the scarcity of water supply in the area. The information technology -IT-strategy for the centre was that a large central database would feed all its sections and functions.
The project would present a modern art gallery where crafts could be displayed in such a way that it could create its market globally and educate visitors. The group proposed to put all co-op research materials, and designed displays in digital format on the website for global access. The Craft Center is to have a multicultural design approach, and a state of the art digital library in all local languages in a user-friendly environment.
Project: To design a Rescue Service Station with an Observatory GROUP D GROUP D Instructor: Ar.Sameeta Ahmed
 Ar. Fahmida justified the feasibility of a 'Rescue Center' at given site and said that ever since man has journeyed on the Hill Stations, great risks have been taken to rescue those in danger. Great missions of reaching the peaks could only be accomplished with a back up support of rescuing them, if needed. She asked students to design a Future Work Place, i.e., "A Rescue Service Station with an Observatory" and study existing contemporary workspaces and research on them to develop a living + work space with an innovative solution using new techniques and latest equipment.
 After observing various methods and techniques used for the development of rescue centers, the group conceded their thoughts as "While technology and science have the potential to create an ideal habitat for humanity over the millennium, there is a possibility of a monumental genetic hangover over the subsequent millennia due to an over reliance in technology reducing our natural capacity to resist disease or our evolved ability to interact with each other."- BBC, MSNBC
Following are the Concepts presented by the students
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Concept No. 1
- Structure made of four wings around a circle helps to control seismic conditions.
Circular form provides larger view.
- Build one façade of the building with glass to view the valley.
- Provide Terraces on opposite side of the glass.
- Retaining wall and trees would help to bind the structure
Concept No. 2
 build moveable terraces with the help of rollers tracks.
- Provide rescue services on ground and first floor.
- Foldable terraces would provide a single floor in case of
- Build moveable terraces with the help of rollers tracks.
- Provide rescue services on ground and first floor.
- Foldable terraces would provide a single floor in case of heavy rain and snow falls.
- Use the top of the structure for observatory lab.
- Provide Helipad behind the observatory lab.
Concept No. 3
- Observatory lab considered to be first because it is more important.
- Shell on the top of the observatory.
Trees on the structure help to bind it in case of heavy rain and in seismic conditions.
 During Studio, Ar. Shaima Ghai Al Arayedh formed a hypothetical architectural firm under the name of 'Future Works" and declared all group member as Associates who just have started their practice following DDP 2007.
Theoretically, following their graduation, the group decided to base 'Future Works' in a high rise-office building located in a busy city center in Lahore. Eventually, and with the aid of sophisticated communication and information technologies, they were regularly commissioned for projects outside Pakistan and so have often found themselves traveling individually to manage their work responsibilities more closely all over the globe in New York, Beijing, Dubai, Johannesburg, and London. They regularly work for long hours from hotel rooms and airports and are well acquainted with the array of terms, some of which are "flexible" or "mobile" work, "distributed work", "touch down offices", "hot-desking" and "hotelling" that describe the workplace paradigm of 2020.
Lately however, the six architects have reached consensus that their Lahore based office has not been serving as a true reflection of their design ethos and evolving work needs, and so, have been seriously thinking of relocating to a site near Abbotabad where they have originally met 13 years earlier in 2007.
Lately however, the six architects have reached consensus that their Lahore based office has not been serving as a true reflection of their design ethos and evolving work needs, and so, have been seriously thinking of relocating to a site near Abbotabad where they have originally met 13 years earlier in 2007.
Accordingly, the students presented their individual concepts and schematic plans and described Water as an inspiration. According to them Water is an element which is flexible and transforms into various states so that their design would be flexible in nature and would provide a sense of transformation from one space to another. Their concepts were as follows:
Concept No.1
The basic idea was based on terrace planning. The workplace to be accommodated in the center while the residential blocks to be placed around it. The workplace to be subdivided as per functional needs of the office such as audio-visual activities and the isolation areas etc., moreover each of the residential building to be provided with two open sides.
Concept No.2
The building form to depict the concave characteristic of a dew drop. It would be composed of the two whirls, one for residential block in upward direction while the downward whirl for the workplace.
Concept No.3
The Concept was based on configuration needed for the transformation process.
The internal configuration would be in such a way that it follows the connections between various users of the buildings. Communal zones to be created for common users such as 'architect-architect', 'architect-nature', 'architect-client' etc.
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Concept No. 4
It was based on a clear division of residential and workplaces, however, communal spaces were suggested to accommodate common activities like baths, kitchen, lounge etc.
Based on the critique, the group finally developed their project along following traits:
Placement of various patterns were inspired by merging of water drops to create a flow. Irregular patterns represented splash of water
* Hexagon forms represented snow flakes (form having six ends used to create six blocks for six partners) Living quarters were divided into two clusters. * Workplace was directly accessible from each living quarter.
* Each block had a west side view.
Project: To design a Sculpture Park-Museum in Nathiagali
GROUP F Instructor: Ar. Sameeta Ahmed
 Students were asked by Ar. Zunera to observe the phenomena of 'Changing notions of public spaces' in modern world of information and technology which is rapidly changing our relationship with public spaces She said that technology has changed the way we use public space.
Through technological innovations like the internet, text messaging, mobile communication, internet and GPS we can freely share information and develop a community life on the web. In the privacy of one's own room the world has become infinitely larger and noisier than the world out on the street. Some of the idealistic concepts of what public space should be are being realized in virtual public space now.
She emphasized the need of connecting Public Spaces by virtual windows.
She asked students to imagine virtual windows in a public place to the rest of the world. They offer a look into other places in which the people can also see you and can have contact with you. The window screens work in two directions. They both project and capture images. The video they capture (with the multiple micro-camera's which are embedded) will become one video-image which can be projected into another public space. The main objective of this project was to provide a space where those objects could be displayed which are not exhibited anywhere else. The artifacts of areas closer to Nathiagali were to be considered and famous historical place Takht Bahi was an option in this regard.
Following are the Concepts as presented by individuals:
Concept No.1
Inspired by the form of pine tree, commonly found in Nathiagali, the concept was based upon virtual and non virtual (physically existent) elements.
Mountains in the backdrop of site were considered as a virtual image in relation with the approaching road as a physical entity. Similarly the sculptures were considered the physical entity and the archeological artifacts as virtual experience. Also the virtual reality was emphasized by projecting holographic images providing information about a certain artifact or so. Just like the leaves of pine cone which are responsive to the climatic condition, the outer skin of the park was supposed to get closed in harsh climate and get opened under favorable conditions letting the users to enjoy the weather and views.
Concept No.2
The students suggested that the park should be designed like a sculpture since it's a sculptural garden. Use of circular forms should be incorporated to depict the contemporary sculptures and the rectangular forms like the Buddhist temple could be used to represent the archeological forms.
Concept No.3
Since the site is already blessed with panoramic views and lush green environment, students suggested taking it as built garden and only incorporating sculptures in the valley at proper places. (The instructor commented that it would become a huge project to work on it in just 12 days).
Concept No.4
 Basic idea was inspired from the motion of electrons and explosion of the nuclei. Rectangle is a strong/stable form but by exploding the rectangle it would scatter into small pieces. These small pieces would be used as a module for the project. It was also suggested that the sculpture should interact with the visitors. The building form was supposed to be a combination of introvert cum extrovert spaces.
All concepts were discussed by jurors and in light of their feedback, the students chose the Concept No. 4 to further develop and to design rest of the project along the lines as described in Concept No. 4.
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"It was the ever first opportunity for the students of various architectural schools across the nation to meet at one place and participate in such a long workshop", said by Ar. Shahab Ghani Khan at the inauguration of International Summer Studio launched from the platform of DDP (Design Discovery Pakistan) on July 2, 2007 at the Abbotabad Campus of NWFP University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar.
Building should act like a sun which provides light. For this purpose relative solar panels to be installed.
