Geneva, 8 January 2010 – The members of the Master Jury of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture were announced today. The Jury, which selects the recipients of the Award, will convene in January to review the 401 nominated projects and select approximately 25 finalists, which will then be subject to on-site reviews by independent experts. The Jury will meet for a second time in June to select the Award recipients from the group of finalists. Recipients will be announced at a ceremony in Autumn 2010.

The nine members of the Master Jury for the 2010 Award cycle are:

Professor Souleymane Bachir Diagne
Professor, Department of Philosophy, Columbia University, USA

Mr. Omar Abdulaziz Hallaj
Architect; Chief Executive Officer, Syria Trust for Development

Professor Salah Hassan
Art historian and curator; director of Africana Studies and Research Center, Cornell University, USA

Ms. Faryar Javaherian
Architect and curator; co-founder of Gamma Consultants, Iran

Mr. Anish Kapoor
Artist, UK

Professor Yu Kongjian
Landscape architect and urbanist; founder and dean of Graduate School of Landscape Architecture, Peking University, China

Mr. Jean Nouvel
Architect; founding partner, Ateliers Jean Nouvel, France

Ms. Alice Rawsthorn
Design critic, International Herald Tribune, UK

Mr. Basem Shihabi
Architect; Managing Partner, Omrania & Associates, Saudi Arabia

For details visit www.akdn.org

ART DUBAI ANNOUNCES PARTICIPATING GALLERIES FOR 2010
Art Dubai is pleased to announce a strong selection of more than 60 of the worlds’ most exciting emerging and established contemporary galleries for the fourth edition of Art Dubai. Whilst the selection of galleries confirms Art Dubai’s diverse geographical connections, the fair has capitalised on the successful introduction of solo projects in 2009 with nearly a third of all participants now presenting exhibitions by individual artists.

The international reach of galleries originating from 30 countries demonstrates a continued confidence in the central role Dubai as the principle centre for art commerce within the region.

TRENDS IN THE ART DUBAI 2010 GALLERY SELECTION INCLUDE

• Over half of the galleries are returning to Art Dubai in 2010, including Galerie Chantal Crousel, Paris; Sfeir-Semler, Hamburg/Beirut; and Continua, San Gimignano/Beijing/Le Moulin.

• New galleries include Peres Projects, Berlin/Los Angeles; Galeria OMR, Mexico City; Paradise Row, London; Carbon 12, Dubai; and Galeria Animal, Santiago.

• A new initiative for 2010 showcases ‘Artist focus stands’ where selected galleries will exhibit one to two artists. These galleries include Rose Issa Projects, London; Green Art Gallery, Dubai; Chemould Prescott Road, Mumbai; Rossi + Rossi, London; and Frey Norris, San Francisco.

In addition to the more than 60 art galleries participating in Art Dubai 2010, there will also be a new area within the fair devoted to museum-quality painting and sculpture from the 1950’s to 1970’s providing an important contextual framework to the achievements of contemporary artists.

QUOTES FROM PARTICIPATING GALLERIES ABOUT ART DUBAI

Art Dubai provides opportunity and exposure for local, regional and international artists and galleries with a place to be seen on the world stage. Having exhibited since its inception in 2007, this international event has reinforced Dubai and the UAE as a vital destination in the global art and cultural sector, and we are proud to be a part of this again.

— Sunny Rahbar, Co-Director, The Third Line, Dubai

Art Dubai is a strong platform for us to exhibit and sell. We choose works that will impact on the visual landscape in Dubai and we see the fair as an excellent way of promoting our artists within the region.

— Chili Hawes, Director, and Elisabeth Lalouschek, Artistic Director, October Gallery, London

For further information about Art Dubai, please visit www.artdubai.ae

WorldArchitecture is proud to present the high-resolution (print-quality) posters of worldarchitecture.org 20+10+X Architecture Awards 5th Cycle Winners all from different countries of the world. Click to see and download the posters.

6th Cycle Submissions
Deadline: 22 January 2010

South African Interpretation Centre wins World Building of the Year at World Architecture Festival Awards 2009
Johannesburg-based Peter Rich Architects secures global architecture’s most prestigious accolade
Mapungubwe Interpretation Centre in South Africa, designed by Peter Rich Architects of Johannesburg, has won global architecture’s most coveted accolade of World Building of the Year at the prestigious World Architecture Festival Awards (WAF Awards) 2009.
For further info: WorldArchitecture Winners

Architect Arshad Abdulla, Past President of IAP, passed away on the 26th of October 2009.
ADA lost a loyal, generous and sincere mentor in his passing. He was an ardent supporter who was always ready not only to sustain it, but also to indicate the path for reaching an international standard comparable to any world class publication.
His energy, communicative ability, positivism, and drive to pursue quality architecture will remain indelibly as part of the profession and for the Institute of Architects Pakistan, IAP in bringing new and profound energies to obtain the proper balance between the quality of life and the quality of architecture.
ADA salutes the man and his endeavors, whose achievements to the profession, community, society and character building stand taller than him. Arshad sahab you will always live in our hearts.

Maria Aslam-Hyder

20+10+X WA Awards

5th Cycle winner announced, Extended deadline for 6th cycle 6th Nov 2009

Winners of 5th cycle includes Pakistani Ar. Fayaz Ahmed selected by the honorary members of WA (20 projects)

For further details www.worldarchitecture.org

272 shortlisted for WAF Awards 09

ADA Editor invited as Jury in the distinguished panel of jurors in WAF 2009

A tree top restaurant in New Zealand, a space age high school in Los Angeles, a stunning culture complex in South Korea, an aviary inspired by Gaudi in Geneva, and Wimbledon Centre Court in London, are among the 272 building projects that have made it onto this year’s shortlist for the World Architecture Festival (WAF) Awards.
The shortlisted projects will compete at this year’s WAF to become World Building of the Year 2009 with architects presenting their schemes live to the public. In a reflection of the current global climate the event is themed around ‘Less Does More’ and will examine the challenges facing architects to produce more value for less cost.
Projects hail from 67 different countries including emerging markets such as Iran, Syria, Sierra Leone, Vietnam, Ghana, South Korea, and India, as well as countries such as Canada, Australia, USA, UK, China, Russia and Scandinavia, which all have strong representation on the shortlist.

HSP President Honored

President of HSP, A. K. Khan, was awarded the Sitara-i-Imtiaz on 14 August 2009 for his role in the promotion of horticulture in the country.
Sitara-e-Imtiaz, which translates as the star of excellence, is an honour given by the Government of Pakistan to both the military and civilians. It is awarded for distinguished merit in the fields of literature, arts, sports, medicine or science for civilians. Once a year it is announced on the Independence Day and given on Pakistan day to the people of Pakistan by the President of Pakistan.

For those in the military it is given after distinguished service and is also the highest medal award that can be awarded to those at the rank of Brigadier/ Major General.
The official citation recognized A. K. Khan’s long and dedicated services in the field of horticulture, landscape design and the development of several projects, from highly prestigious national and defence establishments to small tree plantations in remote areas. It also singled out his contributions to horticultural research and his authorship of several books on the subject.

The investiture ceremony will be held on 23 March 2010.

Hadid made Praemium Imperiale architecture laureate

Zaha Hadid has been awarded the Japan Art Association’s Praemium Imperiale Architecture Laureate for 2009.

Hadid inherits the title from 2008 Laureate Peter Zumthor and will receive a prize of 15 million yen (£100,000).

Four of the five laureates awarded by the Art Association have been granted to UK-based artists this year, with sculptor Richard Long, musician Alfred Brendel and playwright Tom Stoppard joining Hadid.
Japanese photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto has been awarded a laureate in the painting category.

The 2009 laureates will travel to Japan for an awards ceremony on October 22 which will be presided over by Prince Hitachi, the younger brother of the Emperor of Japan.

Previous Praemium Imperiale architecture laureates include Frank Gehry, James Stirling, IM Pei, Renzo Piano, Tadao Ando, Richard Rogers, Norman Foster, Rem Koolhaas, Oscar Niemeyer, Jean Nouvel and Herzog & de Meruon.

Farnek Avireal to give UAE hospitality a sustainable edge

UAE-based FM company signs licensing agreement with Green Globe International to provide green certification for hotels and golf courses throughout Middle East

UAE hotels and golf courses looking for the last word in green practices and a competitive edge for the growing numbers of environmentally conscious tourists, could soon have Farnek Avireal’s Green Globe certification stamp on their marketing material – providing they can meet its 248 exacting standards first.

Farnek Avireal has recently signed an exclusive five-year licensing agreement with Green Globe International, to utilize the Green Globe brand, the only recognized certification label in the tourism and hospitality industry, covering tourism properties within 20 different countries throughout the Middle East

More than 800 businesses in 50 countries have so far received the paperless web-based Green Globe Certification (GGC) and it is the only one globally in compliance with ISO17021. The GGC is the premier worldwide sustainability certification for tourism businesses and the Green Globe Index tool allows clients to calculate their CO2 emissions, the financial cost of that enables them to track their performance of energy and water consumption as well as non-recyclable waste production.
www.greenglobeint.com

Dada and Partners India; Winners of the International Open Urban Design Competition for the New Campus of SPA, New Delhi, India

The School of Planning & Architecture (SPA), New Delhi –one of the foremost design institutes in the sub-continental region–held an International Open Urban Design Competition for its new 20 acre campus site at Vasant Kunj. With a modest beginning in 1941 as a Department of Architecture of Delhi Polytechnic, the present specialised university is one of the few ‘Design’ schools that have their histories grounded in the pre-partition period. Sir J.J college of Arts and Architecture, Mumbai and the National College of Art, Lahore (the erstwhile Mayo College of Art) are the others, which pride in older beginnings.
The competition site lies on the edge of the undulating South Central Ridge zone. Though excluded from the “notified forest” designation, the site sits in a highly sensitive ecological corridor. The Grand hotel on the east, high end plotted developments to the south, institutional buildings as well as the bio-diversity park to the north-northwest form the diverse collection of neighbours that enrich the context. The entries for the campus development were required to demonstrate an urban design strategy including system design for all aspects of the built and open environments, relationship between the campus and its surroundings as also with the larger city network and a comprehensive set of development guidelines and controls for the architectural projects. Innovation in technology and communication, and sustainability were other concerns. The program required gross built-up of 45,700 Sq.m.
The Board of assessors selected for the competition consisted of prominent Indian architects including Prof. Ranjit Mitra- Director SPA, Prof. Charles Correa, Prof Ranjit Sabhiki, Prof. M. Shaheer, and Member Ministry of Human Resource & Development. Of the total 130 entries which were received, Dada & Partners, Haryana emerged as the winning entry. M/S Ghosh & Associates, Delhi received the citation for the second winning entry, followed by Vishvapriya/Chelsea West Architects, New York. The Bodhi Tree, Bangalore, Samyak architects, Pune, and an entry in the name of Ar. Verendra Wakhloo comprising of a team of fresh graduates from the School, Ashish Gupta, Bhavna Muttreja, Kavery Singh Manki, Meenakshi Chauhan and Swati Sharma won special mentions.

Architectural Design Competition for Commercial Epicentre at Korangi Creek Industrial Park, Karachi

Architect Iftikhar Azam wins
The Pakistan Council of Architects and Town Planners (PCATP) was commissioned by the National Industrial Park Development & Management Company (NIP) to organize and conduct an Architectural Design Competition for the Commercial Epicentre at Korangi Creek Industrial Park, Karachi. It was a one-stage nation wide competition.
www.pcatp.org.pk

Veteran Architect Misbah Najmi passed away on 17th March 2009.

An architect whose practice was an institution in itself; an architect who excelled and conversed with sketches. His Masjid-e-Faran is an excellent example of a successful blending of local traditional architectural techniques within a contemporary mosque. He was an architect known for his sensitive approach towards residential design.

Misbah Najmi was a steering force behind the Institute of Architects Pakistan and had served the institute in various capacities. He was also Chairman PCATP, (Pakistan Council of Architects and Town Planners) and represented Pakistan in many international platforms He leaves behind a widow, a daughter and son both architects who are now the force behind Najmi Bilgrami Collaborativ.

YRM to design first new nuclear power station

YRM has been confirmed as the first architect to be commissioned to design one of Britain’s new generations of nuclear power stations.
The practice has been appointed by French giant EDF Energy to work up the vision and masterplan for the new European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) at Hinkley Point in Somerset, a scheme worth over £3 billion and the first of four nuclear plants planned by EDF in this country.

Maki Completes First Building for Aga Khan in Ottawa

Maki and Associates has completed the first building in the world specifically designed for the Aga Khan and his agencies.
The Aga Khan is the spiritual leader of the world’s Ismaili Muslims and founder of the coveted Aga Khan Award for Architecture, which honors projects in communities where Muslims have a significant presence. The new, 95,000-square-foot building, known as the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, is located in Ottawa, Canada, and houses offices for the Aga Khan Foundation of Canada and Aga Khan Development Network, a group of secular agencies with a variety of activities in the developing world that promote health, education, economic development, and revitalization of historic cities.
www.akdn.org

Aga Khan Award for Architecture

Cyclical Calendar: 2008-2010
15th January 2008 – 15th September 2009
Identification and nomination of projects
15th March 2008 – 15th October 2009
Submission of project documentation
November 2009
Master Jury meeting I
December 2009 – April 2010
On-site project reviews
April 2010
Short listed projects announced
June 2010
Master Jury meeting II
25th June 2010
Announcement of Awards
Autumn 2010
Award ceremony

For further details: http://www.akdn.org/akaa.asp

Architect Nayyer Ali Dada wins

Architectural Design Competition for the Pakistan National Center For Performing Arts / National Theatre At Islamabad.

The Pakistan Council of Architects and Town Planners (PCATP) was commissioned by the Ministry of Culture, Government of Pakistan through the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) to organize and conduct an Architectural Design Competition for the Pakistan National Center For Performing Arts / National Theatre in the vicinity of Cultural Complex at Shakarparian, Islamabad. It was a one-stage nation wide competition.

THE ARCASIA AWARD FOR ARCHITECTURE – 2009/2010 EDITION

A Biennial Award Instituted by ARCASIA for 2009/2010 Edition exemplary Architectural Projects in the ARCASIA REGION

ARCASIA in its endeavors to raise the standard of the built environment throughout Asia in general and in its Member countries in particular, has instituted the ARCASIA AWARD FOR ARCHITECTURE in order to encourage and recognize exemplary work done by ARCHIRECTS working in Asia.
ARCASIA AWARD SCHEDULE: Submission Dates
20th February 2009 -
First announcement sent to all Member Institutes
20th April 2009 -
Second announcement sent to all Member Institutes, Including name of jurors
1st June 2009 -
Deadline for the 1st Submission of Documents
8th, 9th & 10th June 2009 -
Preliminary Examination: Members of the jury will review the submitted works for
short listing entries.
By 22nd June 2009 -
Request for further materials from Applicant in specified format from entries short
listed by jurors.
11th August 2009 -
Deadline for submission of requested information for final judging & exhibition.
18th – 19th August 2009 -
Final Jury meeting in Ulaanbaatar and confirmation of the results of the Awards
at the ARCASIA Council Meeting, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
2010 – Conferment of the ARCASIA Awards at ACA 2010 in Lahore, Pakistan.

For further details visit: www.arcasia.org or www.iap.com.pk

UIA TOKYO 2011

The next International Union of Architect’s world congress will take place in Tokyo, Japan, on 25 to 29 September 2011, at the Tokyo International Forum. The UIA General Assembly will take place from 29 September until 1st October 2011. A Mecca of contemporary architecture, Tokyo and all of Japan offer to visitors a brilliantly dynamic architectural environment.
www.uia-architectes.org

ACA XIV GOES TO IAP, PAKISTAN

In a highly contested meeting of the Asian Congress of Architects held from 27th 0ct to 1st Nov 2008, decides Pakistan to host the ACA XIV 2011 in Lahore
This ARCASIA meeting has become the largest gathering of architects and architecture students ever held within the Asian member institutes. Asian Congress of Architects (ACA) is a major regional conference held every two years and coinciding with the Council meeting. It is more than a conference for the intellectual exchange of current architectural ideas; it is a memorable convivial occasion that combines cultural activities of the participants. For further details lahorechapter@iap.com.pk

The inherent beauty of the world, of life so often overshadowed by the act of living water, light, nature. Simply being. Mostly looked at, not seen, just existing.

It’s hard to express beauty, seemingly simple and natural. As if one has been lifted off this world, sent over a voyage in a hot air balloon across myriad lands and climes, vistas and landscapes and then sent down. After witnessing so many breathtaking views in the “From Father to Son” exhibition, it’s hard to pin what one exactly feels. A heady dizziness and exhilaration. The plethora of images are exhilarating, each one strikes a different note, leaving a different impression, that its hard to classify, generalize and yet not feel that their forays with the camera, over eight years. As Tariq writes, “the collection resulted from the desire to express the art of seeing, to show the visual splendor of the world. And reveal the incredible richness within even the most common, the most base of objects and episodes in life. The simple fact of living, and appreciating the beauty in everything, such sumptuousness elevates the very act of existence. This intuitive appeal of anything beautiful, which attracts one innately without thinking, rationalizing and intellectualizing.”

Love is lasting; but true love is everlasting.

That’s the thought that churned in my mind as I read the story of how Lord Shiva cried so much and so long on the death of his beloved wife Satti that his unending tears created two holy ponds. One located in Pushkara in Ajmer (India) and the other at Ketaksha, which literally means “raining eyes” in Sanskrit. Standing amidst those ruins I could almost “feel” the “purity of that love”; it was as if the very air all around had somehow trapped those feelings of Lord Shiva for his wife, and those feelings could be sensed even today nearly a thousand years later. It was eerie; yet it was beautiful.

Katas, as it is called today is nestled between Lahore and Islamabad off the M2 Motorway. And is not a heavily visited place, except by those who know of it. And seek it. Driving up to it one cannot but be drawn towards its ageless magnificence. Settled on a small hill and overlooking an endless plain, the site is a treasure trove to the adventurer.

Today, with increasing western influence banks in our country are becoming more and more sophisticated and service oriented, providing its customer the peace of mind, secrecy levels, protocol and the utmost luxury of a corporate environment which he enjoys fully in the few minutes that he spends in the bank. Moreover, the building façade and interior of such corporate buildings need to be more and more eye-catching and unusual in order to gain publicity. You may also call it an urge to be different, very commonly found in this part of the world. Well, the architect of Dubai Islamic Bank, Flagship Branch has taken good care of such aspirations of the client.

Dubai Islamic Bank’s, Flagship Branch in Lahore is another glitzy building designed by Kalim Siddiqui and Associates. It is a true representation of the era of its construction where there is a boom in high rise buildings and the use of aluminum cladding, stainless steel and glazing on external façade and in interiors. These, being relatively new materials, very few examples of a successful and innovative use of them have been seen. However, like other recent examples of KSA, Dubai Islamic Bank stood out on the Boulevard in its use of materials, experimentation and construction details.

In a postcolonial politically chaotic Asia a search for a new artistic language and dialogue has driven young generation art¬ists in pursuit of multiple lines of enquiry and the post modern western construct of new media arts has surfaced as the most favoured vehicle for articulation of these diverse concerns. In Pakistan it was deconstruction of the Mughal Miniature that initiated the new discourse phase while the digital arts, installation, assemblage and video came later but are now gaining ground.

Other than the compelling inner circumstances that gave birth to new metaphors it is the outer interventionist forces that have given Asian art its peculiar, profile. Postcolonial Asian artists are articulating their identities in a situation where an outside power has interrupted and redefined their culture and altered their means of expression. Old boundaries are continuing to crumble but recent Asian art is still under the shadow of Eurocentrism. It is still unable to interpret its complex existence. This inability is the real crux of the identity crisis most third world artists are facing. Instead of undertaking the daunting task of re-building their independent ability to interpret contemporary cultural reality the urge to identify with the West or to gain the recognition of the West dominates artmaking strategies.

New art in Pakistan is a product of the times. It is courting the art market; it mirrors societal apprehensions, aims and aspirations and strangely enough, in many ways, is still faithful to the dominant western discourse. Can any clear signals or messages emerge from this confusing array of influences and motivations?

Today as we move onto 2010 a recap of trends and directions in ’09 reveals that disorder still prevails but fortunately critical voices that question existing systems and aspire for a new reality are gaining strength.

“Kaisee ho?” – a questioning nod with a half raised eyebrow, that was how Arshad would greet me. It seemed he did not quite expect an answer nor would he wait to hear the response, he would move on to address the meeting or the reason for being together.
He appeared as someone shy, unable to reveal his emotions – almost as if protecting himself and equally wary of getting inadvertently pulled into any emotional tangle.

I first met Arshad in 1985, when I requested him to redesign my shop, Koel, (at that time located in the annexe of our house). I needed fresh input to make a complete change in the shop. Some of the buildings designed by ASA had impressed me – simple, clean lines and meticulous detailing were the hallmark of their work.

Arshad had a soft demeanour and gentle approach but was very analytical when it came to planning. After two or three site visits, I was surprised when he brought his brother, Shahid Abdulla, to the site to ask his advice about the colour scheme. Later, I realized how very inseparable the two were. To Arshad’s perhaps cold, but well resolved plan, Shahid added the warmth, bathed it with the ‘magic.’ Arshad’s forte was planning while interior design was the preserve of Shahid, his closest friend and most trusted companion.

If the measure of a man is in the manner in which he is remembered,
If the humanity of a man is in the number of people he has impacted,
If the integrity of a man is in the strength of his word,
If the importance of a man is in the institutions he has nurtured,
If the capability of a man is in the tasks he has completed,
If the legacy of a man is in what he leaves behind,
If the humility of a man is in how he treads,

Arshad Abdulla is a man we would do well to emulate.

It is very difficult to write about a personality such as Arshad sahib. The need to do justice by him and his life is a task that lays heavily on the heart and mind. The affection and esteem with which he is held can only be truly understood through the eyes of people who have had the privilege to interact with him.

Arshad sahib will always be remembered by many of us first and foremost as a teacher. He has trained and developed a large number of architects that have walked through his office. The learning received was not restricted to design or detail, or confined to level and plumb. If you joined his team his goal was to hone a better human, a capable professional a caring person and a compassionate citizen. We hope we approach his ideal, but he was a perfectionist, and truth be told the day one is satisfied is the day the ideal is lost. He lived thus; the search for improvement in ones work could not be stopped.

Reevaluation of the merits of a design was constant. The search for the correct, the appropriate was perpetual. In our younger days many of us would fall prey to impatience, but yet the inquiring and questioning continued. The why and how it could and should, be better was not only put to us, but very clearly to himself. Arshad sahib’s desire to improve himself, us and his office was evident and self explanatory. He however, had always extended his thoughts beyond his immediate context and needs. In his own words: “the stakes are much larger”, was said in context to us as a nation and country. There was a burning desire to serve community through education. This led him to work towards the Citizens Foundation, and the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture. Both of these are institutions that need no elaboration. Arshad Abdulla has been a leading founder member of both these eminent organizations.

Danish architects and activists at N55 have developed a walking house in order to live nomadically with little impact on the environment. This modular dwelling unit, measuring 3.5m high by 3.5m wide and 3.72m long, allows for people to move through cities and villages. The designers say the house was constructed to move at a pace similar to human speed (the walking house can cover a decidedly leisurely 60 meters an hour on its six insect like legs) because, “walking often helps a person concentrate their thoughts and creates a mental state that enforces mobility of the mind”, which suggests that anyone feeling stressed could benefit from getting out and taking the house for a walk. To maintain stability, 3 of the 6 legs must remain on the ground at any given time.

The low environmental impact is achieved by use of solar panels and micro windmills that gather energy. Systems to collect rainwater are also incorporated. Water may be heated via the solar panels, and potentially a greenhouse can be added to the basic unit to provide a substantial part of the food needed by the inhabitants and a composting toilet system allows sewage to be disposed of.

One of the most important by-products of the walking house is the extinction of land ownership. According to the website manifesto; ‘The Walking House requires no permanent use of land and thereby challenges ownership of land and suggests that all land should be accessible for all persons.’ While this style of nomadic living is definitely not unknown to us, the walking house itself takes precedence from the traditional Romani carriages of the 18th century. So I was curious to see this insect like form, would it be in fact more comfortable than a Recreational Vehicle (RV)?

Going through the last issue of ADA, I was deeply touched to read the poignant, moving piece written on Ar. Misbah Najmi by his daughter and son. It was both an obituary and celebration of the life of a highly talented architect, a patron of art, teacher and mentor to a generation of young architects, an essentially family man whose charm and warmth enveloped a very wide circle of doting relatives and friends of all ages and denominations.
Your coverage of the work of young architects in the same issue is indeed laudable. You have provided them with a rare window, never before available to young professionals in Pakistan, to showcase their creations. We hope we shall be able to see the presence of many other young architects from across the country in the coming issues of ADA.
Keep up the good work! — Ar. Syed Akeel Bilgrami (Karachi)

The quality of writing and coverage is very good. More articles looking critically at particular buildings in Pakistan would be welcome – we need to build a discourse about architecture that is lacking. I wish you much deserved success. — Hasan-Uddin Khan

The role of ADA magazine, for me, is to create a platform for inspiration to engage with the creative industries, like it says on the cover….Architecture Design and Art. These are the industries that will participate in transformations of society, economically, environmentally and socially! I look forward to ADA in playing its role of recording and instigating debate, thought, and inspiring all.
It certainly has created a great start! — Azhar (Azhar Architecture)

I was delighted to see ADA making an effort to bring the “Younger Generation” of Pakistan on a public platform. It was high time that somebody did take up a stance and produced a positive outlook of this country’s present and future generations especially when a huge wave of political turmoil is engulfing us from all sides.

It was this first theme issue of ADA that will infuse a lot of hope, goodwill and strength in our young and happening designers/ professionals. It always helps an individual to strive for more when due recognition and apt acknowledgement is given to one’s achievements, and it is this chord that ADA has struck with showcasing the works of the new generation under “Generation Next”. Another heart warming aspect was that Pakistani designers corresponded from all over the world to help ADA in its feature issue. We as a nation stood up!!

ADA in itself has come a long way and we all hope that it continues to serve the professionals and the nation for a long time to come. — Ar. M. Qasim (USA)