· Client & Owner: Durbeen & Government of Pakistan
· Design Scope and Team: Architecture, Landscape architecture, Interior Design
Saifullah Sami, Saad Mohibullah, Raza Aziz, Umair Siddiqui, Ahmed Ali, Farhan Feroz Ali, Usama Arif.
· Location: Hussainabad, Karachi, Pakistan
· Consultants: Electrical Eleken Associates, Plumbing Matrix Consultants
· Contractor: Various
· Total Area: 9 acres
· Completion Date: February 2025
· Photography by: Saifullah Sami, Mahrukh Rizvi, Bilal Yousuf
This is a renovation of a state-run school into a teacher training college. Our approach was similar to that which we use in all our work: a sense of promenade, climatic response and place-making.
The landscaping of the campus simply responds to the existing trees, creating pathways around and towards them as well as pause spaces underneath.
The design adds sandstone plinths to the existing buildings, a reference to the 14th century necropolis of Makli near Thatta, serve as a datum to bring the master plan together.
The Academic Building is the centerpiece of the campus. its courtyard named Academic Court was originally paved with glossy porcelain and its surrounding walkways separated by parapets from the open space. From the start we sensed the potential of this space to signify a rite of passage - an initiation, a process and a culmination - in essence a promenade.
An essential part of the promenade is the amphitheater we added. it serves as the end of a visual and movement axis as well as the symbolic culmination of an academic journey for the women that study for four years at GECE, training to become school teachers in the public schools of Pakistan. Made of demolition rubble, earth fill, brick tiles and washed terrazzo, the steps accommodate the existing trees in a manner that creates seating alcoves.
Berm of Amphitheatre overgrown with creeper, stage visible in distance
Main gate to the campus
Context plan
Existing Master Plan in Context
Existing buildings
Master Plan showing zoning of major proposed outdoor spaces
Master plan showing zoning of major landscaping interventions
The Necropolis of Makli is a reference for the stone plinths as a datum to tie the master plan
Stone-mason at work
Strategy to read existing circulation patterns and to tie individual buildings into a cohesive master plan through landscaping and addition of pathways and stone plinths.
Proposed Master Plan
Academic Court before renovation
Academic Court after renovation
Stage Steps to the rear of Academic Building facing the Amphitheatre
Stage steps become shaded spaces of rest
Amphitheatre steps in washed terrazzo accommodate existing trees as well as new ones
Seating alcoves nested in the berm of Amphitheatre
Seating alcoves in Amphitheatre berm
Pergolas of steel and bamboo create shaded spaces for social interaction
Shaded bleachers at the volleyball court
Entrance to the Library
Library Building shaded by trees
Library facade before renovation
Library south-facing facade shrouded by creeper after renovation
Alcoves behind the Library facade
A vintage blackboard preserved in the Library reading space
Amphitheatre stage created around existing trees
Amphitheater
Amphitheater
Amphitheater
Commons Building before renovation
Commons Building after renovation
Existing staircase at the Commons Building preserved as an element of promenade at the College
Water fountain or “sabeel” at the Commons Building
Seating pit at the Commons Building
Porch at the Commons Building with a mural by Fine Arts students from the Indus Valley School
Seating “fireplace” pit
Pathways before renovation
Renovated pathways
Facade of Academic Building before renovation
Renovated Academic Building facade
Administration Building before renovation
Administration Building after renovation
View from the Administration Building
Interior of a typical classroom
Faculty offices partitioned with cement screens or “jaalis”
Renovated existing terrazzo counters in science labs