Archi Talk

• What did you want to become when you are a child? What motivated you to become an architect
As a child you have no restrictions upon your desires and one is very honest with their likes and dislikes. However, these likes tend to change very frequently, when I look back there were many varied options I wanted to undertake like being a cricketer! (Imran khan at his prime in the early 80’s) or a Knight who lives in a castle to name a couple.

I was always fascinated by castles and other monumental buildings as a child. I also loved playing with Lego blocks. In the case of Lego, I used to enjoy coming up with my own designs by mixing various sets. This I believe was my earliest and most crucial interest in Architecture.

• What is one memory you have from childhood?
Just like everyone I have many memories from my childhood! For the case of this interview I will recall a memory from childhood related to architecture. I was fascinated as a child by machicolations which are the spaces between two stone blocks in castles which were used to fire arrows from and keep the shooter safe. I always wanted those in my house! Fortunately *laughs* I have never built a house or a building with such feature

• What kind of projects were you doing when you first started as an architect?
When I graduated I was working for one of the best architecture firms in the country and there I was exposed to fairly large projects with an open hand creativity as well as cost. First job is usually a continuation of school as you learn about how to actually build their only.

• Would you say architecture is a field for everyone?
No field is for everyone. That is why we have all sorts of people with different interests and expertise and that is how they make best use of themselves. Architecture requires a particular set of skills. When doing your own practice not only does one have to have a good business sense but also must have people skills. These are crucial if you are to progress in your practice. I feel sound temperament is also important with not only interacting with your clients but in your dealings with the contractors and various labor personnel on sites.

• How many projects can you expect to be working at once?
As not all projects begin at the same time their stages overlap. With that in mind I have been able to do 8-9 projects of different scales and different timelines simultaneously. However, when such an instance occurs that many are at the same stage it can become challenging.

• What style architecture do you love most?
I am not one to believe in following a style. More important than style is to ensure the project serves its purpose. The architects role is give a design solution for the project both technically and aesthetically and not stamp a “style” on it.

• Are you enjoying your profession? If yes then why?
Yes Alhamdulillah I am enjoying my professional life. I am running my own practice successfully for over 12 years now and with it I have been able to give time to not only my alma mater the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture in various capacities but also to the institute of Architects Pakistan where I am currently serving as the Chairman of the Karachi Chapter.
My earlier commitment as the Architects Regional Council Asia (ARCASIA) Honorary Secretary 2017-18 gave me the opportunity to visit over 20 countries and interact with the fraternity their through various architectural programs. Travel is surely one of the best ways to learn.

• What’s the best thing about your life right now?
Alhamdulillah one should always be content with life.

• What is the one thing that you are proud of?
I am proud of my teams, starting from the office to the sites, my executive committee at the IAP-KC and all my students.

• What is your message for young Architect?
Welcome to the profession! You have put in the hard hours in school and here you are a new graduate. Don’t relinquish your dreams but be ready to pay your dues in the profession. There are no short cuts to success but hard work and determination definitely has its rewards, it may not come in the shape and size you wanted or expected but it’s wonderful. All the best!

• What did you want to become when you are a child? What motivated you to become an architect?
I always wanted to be an artist as a child. The child still in me wants to be an artist, therefore I enjoy the process of design through drawings, illustration and sketches. My mother and my school art teacher who has influenced me a lot in schooling days.

• What made you to change your career interest?
As we have a family business of iron rod and father’s business in construction, my mother and my art teacher decided to combine my passion/interest to our family business background. I think it has worked out great for me.

• What is one memory you have from childhood?
There are definitely many but sketching and making stuff with hands in my art classes were best memories from school days.

• What kind of projects were you doing when you first started as an architect?
When I graduated from IVS, I started working with Architect Tariq Hasan, just after two months we were fortunate to be invited for a Housing project competition by my community “Dawoodi Bohra” at Hyderi, which we won also.

• Would you say architecture is a field for everyone?
If you are passionate about architecture then definitely yes, but keep in mind that it’s also known as “Architorture.”

• What was your favorite project and what did you do to make a success?
The Housing competition project we did in Malir for my community with Architect Saifullah Sami in 2016. The idea of sustainable living and creating an environment on the bases of how we as Bohra community live together, with concept of 4 meems that is Masjid, Madrasah, Manzil and Mujhtama.

• How many projects can you expect to be working at once?
Ideally I would prefer to be working on 7 project at once but as I have recently started my own design firm, so I have to handle more than that.

• What style architecture do you love most?
I would suggest not to fall in love with any style but as I have studied in Italy I enjoy Baroque.

• Are you enjoying your profession? If yes then why?
Definitely yes, Building own in creativity and see other human being to experience it or occupy it, is definitely an amazing feeling.

• What’s the best thing about your life right now?
Technology, it has given us immense power of knowledge and learning new ideas with so much ease.

• What is the one thing that you are proud of?
Being a master of my own time, and that came after starting my own design firm called “Mitra”, which I am very proud of.

• What is your message for young Architect?
Talent won’t get you anywhere but consistency, discipline and habits will definitely make you successful in wherever field you are. Being an Architect isn’t about making beautiful buildings. Architecture is a design field in which you have to solve problems for human beings.

What did you want to become when you are a child? What motivated you to become an architect?
Always wanted to be in a creative field, it was either advertising or architecture. But I was always inclined towards architecture. Arch. Habib Fida Ali (late) was a big inspiration for me I and always admired his work. I was fortunate enough that my first and only job as an architect was with him.

What is one memory you have from childhood?
Playing with Lego, Building houses and different forms with it.

What kind of projects were you doing when you first started as an architect?
My interest has always been towards residential projects. Although I worked on mostly institutional buildings when I was working for Arch. Habib Fida Ali (late), But when I started my own practice, I am mostly doing residences. For the past few years, I have started working on office interiors and landscaping as well.

What was your favorite project and what did you do to make a success?
It was one of the first projects I did when I started my firm Copper and Steel. It was an extension of an existing house, which was designed by Habib sb.
The success was the collaboration and understanding with my client. As it is very important to do any successful project. We made a great team as, we shared and discussed ideas about materials, finishes and other details. After few years, he moved out from his portion and his brother took over this space. He asked me to redo the portion. It was fun to revisit the project after many years and do it all over again. The collaboration with the new client was very exciting.

How many projects can you expect to be working at once?
I have a very small practice, and prefer not to take on more than 10 projects at a time.

What style architecture do you love most?
I prefer simple, straight line, uncluttered and timeless architecture. I prefer creating spaces and experiences.

Are you enjoying your profession? If yes then why?
One has to enjoy what they are doing. I like multitasking and enjoy working on different ventures. I am practicing architecture, interiors and landscaping. I am also involved in teaching, working with copper crafts, designing fountains and furniture.
We also have a small publishing house with Photographer Amean J. We have so far published 4 books and are currently working on 5th. I curate and participate in exhibitions, and I am a founder member of Pakistan Crafts Council, Black Olive Publication and Pursukoon Karachi.

What’s the best thing about your life right now?
Without any doubt, my family.

What is the one thing that you are proud of?
Copper and Steel and the freedom I have to involve in other ventures.

What is your message for young Architects?
Follow your dreams and never stop learning & exploring. Life is full of surprises.

• What did you want to become when you are a child?
Forensic scientist. Something on the lines of CSI-NY!

• What motivated you to become an architect?
After completing my high school, I faced the dilemma of choosing my career path. Since career counseling is absent from our education system, I opted to intern for a year before applying to a university to peruse architecture. My choosing of a gap year worked in my favor as the skill sets acquired during my internship made my further education journey a breeze.

• What kind of projects were you doing when you first started as an architect?
I Self-inflicted the decision to work on the long and painful journey of designing residences for the ultra-rich of our society who were never in a hurry to move to their new dwellings.

• Would you say architecture is a field for everyone?
No! Plague of incompetency has infected our profession as we see monstrosities all over our country. Our professional licensing body needs to take stern step towards universities that are producing so called “architects’ with zero skillset who are not even fit to be hired CAD operators.

• What was your favorite project and what did you do to make a success?
I would not single out any project since we believe that every next project has to be better than the previous.

• How many projects can you expect to be working at once?
We are a medium size firm and work on appx. 30-35 projects at any given time.

• What style architecture do you love most?
I have an inclination towards “modern industrial” design philosophy.

• Are you enjoying your profession? If yes then why?
I would not be practicing if I did not enjoy the daily challenges that this field upholds. Building dreams to reality is a self-rewarding experience.

• What’s the best thing about your life right now?
Experiencing the adrenaline of professional growth over the years can certainly be it.
• What is the one thing that you are proud of?
By being associated to projects that give back to the society. In our daily routine we all our focused on our own agendas. Creating a quality of space that uplifts the society and nurtures the soul stands as most pivotal moments to cherish.

• What is your message for young Architect?
Architecture is the only art disciplinary field that lives through the tests of time. It lives beyond our lifetime. Be in it if you can add to the quality of it and not the quantity.

• What did you want to become when you are a child and What motivated you to become an architect
I was inspired by my uncle who was a civil engineer, as I grew up I got to learn a lot from him, later on I discovered that my interest is more towards the planning & designing of spaces instead of execution, hence I decided to choose architecture as a profession.

• How many projects can you expect to be working at once?
Usually I’m working on multiple projects at a time, one can be an on-going project which I have to co-ordinate and the other can be a proposal for a new one.

• What was your favorite project and what did you do to make a success?
I take equal interest in all the projects that do, so it’s hard for me to call one of them as favorite.

• What style architecture do you love most?
I’m personally inspired by Habib Fida Ali’s work and Love the modernist approach

• Are you enjoying your profession? If yes then why?
We get to learn something new every day, we have new set of challenges, new tasks. We don’t have those same old boring routines like corporate sector, and that’s something that makes this profession so attractive to me.

• What is the one thing that you are proud of?
I believe being proud of yourself kills your tendency to learn, one should always thrive for excellence instead of involving in self-praise.

• What is your message for young Architect?
If it isn’t your passion, change it right away! Architecture is not everyone’s cup of tea.

• What did you want to become when you are a child? What motivated you to become an architect?
I never had a profession decided as a child but I always wanted to be an inventor.

• What made you to change your career interest?
Getting to know the details of Architecture and how architects literally shape the world was enough to lure me in this field.

• What is one memory you have from childhood?
As a kid I used to make Garden houses at my grandparents’ house. That reminds that I always had an architect in me.

• What kind of projects were you doing when you first started as an architect?
I was involved in the design of an institutional building with one of my greatest mentor Ar. Laiq Ali Abbasi.

• Would you say architecture is a field for everyone?
Is Architecture a field of everyone’s interest? Yes, but is Architecture a field for everyone to take as a profession? I would say no.

• What was your favorite project and what did you do to make a success?
My favorite project till now is SZABIST Gharo Campus because I’ve been involved in all the phases of the project and worked with all the concerned personnel and departments to make it a success.

• How many projects can you expect to be working at once?
At the moment I’m working on 4 projects. But I think this number will increase with time and experience.

• What style architecture do you love most?
Byzantine Architecture. Monumental structures, exquisite details & calculated masses exhibits the intellect and eternal greatness of its era.

• Are you enjoying your profession? If yes then why?
Yes I do. Because every day there’s a new challenge that pushes my limits making me a better professional.

• What’s the best thing about your life right now?
My parents. Seeing them being proud of me and my work is the most valuable thing ever Alhumdulilah.

• What is the one thing that you are proud of?
I’m proud of the trust of my team members and clients that I can get the job done in the given time.

• What is your message for young Architect?
Don’t expect everything at once. Have a bigger picture in mind and paint it one stroke at a time. Everything takes time.