Gosha-E-Atfal, Karachi

The GEN Z Series travels from Barcelona to Karachi in Pakistan to meet an amazing young and a very creative architect, whose heart is filled with compassion and empathy towards fellow citizens. Her design creation speaks volume of this wonderful soul, who has had a tremendous struggling childhood to grow into a fine human being. Let me introduce to the world Wardah Shakil, a Pakistani architect from Karachi. She graduated from the University of Karachi in 2023 with a B. Arch degree. Currently Wardah Shakil is working as an Architect at Berger Paints Pakistan in Karachi.

Entrance Courtyard

Wardah Shakil speaks about her childhood, “When I was 10, my father passed away battling prolonged physical impairment. Like a solid mountain of strength and resistance, my mother worked diligently as a teacher to raise my two siblings and me with love, care and devotion. My mother’s brother Umair Amin and my mother have always been our unwavering pillars of support throughout our lives. Sadly, we lost our maternal uncle last year, a great loss for the family. Having lived a fatherless life since early childhood, we have watched our uncle putting a tumultuous amount of importance on being career-oriented. Witnessing the thirst for independence from a young age is what has driven most of my passion and ambition.

Elevation from Street A

Being the eldest in the family, I have always had to shoulder the expectation of being nothing, but the best. I must confess that at times I did felt the pressure taking a toll on my mental strength. However, having watched my Ammi and her family, who never gave up in spite of all the hardships – I have triumphed over all the hard times growing up. Their unflinching sacrifices and unconditional love has not only shaped my personal and academic lives, but also it has made me a strong individual who would never give up on life (smiles).”

Elevation from Street B

Wardah Shakil’s life journey is a testament of her quest in the world of architecture and life alike. I am truly very proud of you and I salute you Wardah Shakil, my amazing younger sister from Pakistan to teach me so many things about life. Johnny D interacts with Wardah Shakil about her journey and her meticulously designed thesis ‘Gosha-E-Atfal, Karachi: Eduscapes for Underprivileged Children’.

Site Location and Context

What was your childhood ambition? Did you always wanted to become an architect?

I spent my childhood imagining myself somewhere in the medical profession; until I realized it was not exactly my cup of tea (smiles). After studying medicine throughout school and college, the only chance I had left to prove myself was to focus on polishing my skills.

I had been an artist at heart from a young age. When the doors of the medical world closed on me, I decided it was high time to give my artistic skills a chance. Thankfully, architecture is the one field where you do not have to memorize piles of books, but rather be hands-on and take charge. Looking back, I would not choose a different profession if given a choice. Architecture was and has been my natural calling. I am glad, I am an architect now (smiles).

Assembly Courtyard

How has architecture influenced your life as a student?

Architecture has been a rigorous journey that has shaped me for a lifetime and most importantly, taught me the value of discipline, social responsibility and the ability to touch individual experiences by shaping spaces. It has humbled me immensely and has made me acutely aware of my surroundings.

Macro and Micro Site Plan

Briefly tell us about your University and the Course.

Studying architecture has been one of the toughest periods of my life. Being one of the hardest degrees worldwide, it is safe to say now that pursuing architecture is definitely not for the faint-hearted (smiles). The pressure of keeping up with the pace often took a toll on me and eventually made me lose confidence in my work. I developed severe anxiety and managing deadlines became extremely hard.

It was only in the last year of my degree, when I took up a full-time job alongside my studies, that I was able to regain my confidence and finally be able to stand my ground in front of jurors and teachers. Stepping into the professional world boosted my sense of self-worth and helped me believe in my ideas again.

Classroom and Library

Briefly describe the significance of your project with the ‘Title of the Project and Site Location’.

My undergraduate thesis project ‘GOSHA-E-ATFAL: Eduscapes for Underprivileged Children’ (in Urdu Gosha-E-Atfal means ‘A Corner for Children’)’ was an exploration of architectural facilitation for underprivileged children. I put forward the idea of a space where play, education and vocational training can dictate an architectural framework for empowering underprivileged children and promoting their cognitive and intellectual growth. Since the nature of my project was unprecedented, I decided to name the typology an ‘Eduscape’, a fusion of the words ‘Education’ and ‘Escapes’.

Children of Machar Colony

The site is located in Machar Colony, decades-old slum near the sea of Karachi. The building consists of an open plan, where I prioritized flexibility in the spaces so that the locals can use them for their congregational activities, in an attempt to promote inter-communal harmony. A Stitching Unit, Clay Area, Dastarkhwaan (Dining Space) and Sehan (Verandah) all open into a central courtyard that leads to a celebratory Gymnastics Court, and homage to the local children’s interest in particular sport.

Ground Floor Layout

A journeyful ramp takes the children to the upper floor, where the Library and classrooms of different natures are situated. The elevations of the project are enveloped by a ‘Bamboo Playhouse’ and a ‘Stepped Vegetable Patch’ that act as a catalyst for invoking the spark of curiosity among children to explore the building. To promote sustainability, I decided to keep the material palette minimal, so creatively I made use of tensile construction fabric as colorful and informal roofs. I also chose to replace conventional doors and windows with woven bamboo blinds, a locally manufactured alternative that increases the permeability of the project. All of the bamboo and concrete used in the project are also re-utilized to build responsibly.

Personalized Space for Children

Which National or International architect has inspired / influenced you? Please specify as to why?

I was and continue to be deeply influenced by Anna Herringer, because of her empathetic, innovative and climate-responsive architectural solutions. Her words ‘Good architecture is not enough’ stuck with me throughout my academic life and have made me see the potential of architecture beyond elitist glass-clad buildings. It is her way of approaching the built environment that inspired me to make my thesis project about addressing the challenges faced by underprivileged people.

Art Deck

As an Intern, what is the most important lesson(s) you have learned from senior architects, while being a part of a project?

I have had the chance to work with some great mentors and senior architects during my internship. The most important thing I have learned is that Architecture does not have to have a huge magnitude to make a significant impact. Even the careful placement of a tree, a window, or just a thoughtful blend of colors can give meaning to a space.

First Floor Layout

What role do you perform as an Architect at Berger Paints Pakistan, Karachi?

As an Architect at Berger, I am responsible for interior designing projects. I have to prioritize using the company’s various finishing products as key design elements. My scope of work includes ensuring smooth architectural execution by coordinating with all stakeholders including the end users, involved architects, project managers and sales-officers. Additionally, my role as a consultant includes overseeing Business Development, where I generate new leads for the company and help develop long-term business relationships among the architectural community.

Dastarkhwaan – Asian Dining Space

Against the ethos of architecture field, ‘Hostile Architecture’ is an eyesore and fast changing the urban landscape of prominent cities around the world. Elucidate your perspective about this unwanted trend in urban landscape.

I have always advocated against the ‘architecture is for the elite’ narrative. Hostile Architecture not only encourages this particular idea, but also completely defies the potential of architecture to improve the quality of life for all. I believe architecture should have inclusive, empathetic and humane interventions for all class groups, especially within Urban Design.

Hostile Architecture in Karachi

I would also like to mention that hostile architecture is not just limited to humans. Numerous building practices result in the brutal exclusion of stray animals, such as the cordoning off of public parks or sharp wire installations to prevent trespassers. Recent trends of land reclamation have also caused habitat loss on a gigantic scale. More often than not, these practices end up hurting innocent animals, completely negating the fact that the world belongs to them as much as it does to humans. The concept of Hostile Architecture, to me, is very cruel and insensitive and deserves no place in modern developments.

Stitching Unit for Girls

Which significant aspects of the global platform ‘zerobeyond – the new frontier!’ did you liked the most, and why?

I find ‘zerobeyond – the new frontier!’ to be a fantastic platform for all young architects and designers. It is very empowering and a much-needed initiative to give voice to the ideas of aspiring architects of today. The global platform like this allows youngsters to exhibit their work and is a great way of fostering architectural collaborations from around the world.

Slums of Karachi

The time to save Planet Earth from climatic destruction / human greed crisis has already slipped away from humans’ hands. Elucidate your views how the future of your generation is going to rise above the past generations to tackle this existential crisis?

The time of designing marvels without worrying about their carbon footprint and ecological impact is long gone; going forward, young architects like me have no choice but to prioritize eco-friendly construction practices. Architects will have to consciously design with sustainable initiatives, ingenious landscaping and renewable technologies, to undo the damage caused to the climate in the previous decades.

Sehan (Verandah) for Congregational Activities

Local charm of cities has diminished due to Modern Architecture as every city looks alike and similar. How should architects / urban planners /landscape architects modernize cities, while maintaining the local charm intact?

Cultural context is usually not respected enough, because of the opportunities that come with new constructions. The history and cultural significance of any place must be given respect and importance so that the new developments do not look alienated from their context. Modernization does imply rapid and advanced development, but thoughtfully incorporating a region’s local materials, techniques and style that can help preserve the old charm.

Section AA’

Looking at the past in the current present, what are the futuristic architectural changes you would like to see in your home city / town? Elucidate the reasons for your vision.

The ideal Karachi to me is where all of the developments reflect the city’s diverse heritage. Our climate index is deteriorating rapidly, so I wish to see architects prioritize landscaping where green spaces can seep into everyday high-rise buildings, as opposed to being limited to public parks. I also want to see a Karachi, where all life forms can be provided for through architecture, especially our stray cats and dogs.