Architect Blogs

The spaces we inhabit are truly a reflection of us, we style and decorate them as per our needs and desires and some just mold into our true way of living. We the Architects and Interior Designers are the professional who help bring your dreams to a reality. Rooms come in all shapes and sizes. Architects and Interior Designers over the years have been using the following techniques to enhance the quality of a smaller space. The idea is to share those techniques with you which are cost effective as well as do not require too much intervention.
Use mirrors

Small rooms can be made to appear spacious by the use of the mirrors on at least one wall. Even using large mirrors instead of full length wall mirrors maybe enough to visually open up the space.
If you’ve ever wondered, “Do mirrors make a room look bigger?” the answer is a resounding, “Yes.” Mirrors can make your room look larger and more open. Use a focal point and angle your mirrors toward it to give the illusion of depth. Mirrors also reflect both natural and artificial light to make a room brighter during the day and night. Placing a mirror near a window to reflect the world outside is especially effective. Mirrors on the walls and glass table tops also will give your room a more open feel, or use mirrored cabinet doors.

Paint a wall Bright / light colours
Here’s how to make a room look bigger with color. (Hint: It’s an optical illusion.) In the design world, it’s well known that light paint colors make a room look bigger and brighter. Light and bright walls are more reflective, making a space feel open and airy, which helps maximize natural light’s effect. Dark shades tend to absorb light, making rooms feel smaller. Accenting walls to make a room look bigger is another way to go. Accent walls add to the decorative space in color without being too overpowering. Start your painting journey with a color palette that suits your style.

So, what colors make a room look bigger? For an optimum effect, go with soft tones like off-white, blues, and greens, and always remember that brighter rooms feel bigger and more inviting. And here’s another hack: Try painting your wall trim and moldings in a lighter color than your walls. By doing so, the walls will appear farther back, making your living room seem even bigger.

Focal point
Learn how to make a room look bigger through an established focal point — one area or feature that will draw the eye’s attention. In the dining room, that’s probably the table. In the bedroom, it’s the bed. Make that focal point the star of the room. Arrange the furniture so that focus is drawn to that area, and keep the décor in the rest of the room to a minimum

Use sliding doors
One of the most obvious benefits of sliding doors is their space saving properties. Where hinged doors require space in which to swing open, sliding doors operate sideways. This makes them ideal for use in smaller rooms where space is at a premium, as well as for cupboards and wardrobes.

Window balcony
Often referred to as a balconette, Juliet’s can be defined as “false balconies” (or railings) at the outer plane of a window-opening, reaching to the floor. When the window/doors are open, the railings offer up the appearance of a balcony

Don’t clutter
Keep your room tidy and organized. Not only will it spark more joy, but nothing makes a small space feel more cramped than too much stuff. With things neatly arranged or out of sight, the space that is in view will feel orderly and open.
Minimalism also goes for your walls. Don’t cover your walls with a lot of pictures. One large painting works better than a group of small paintings when you’re thinking about how to make a room look bigger. And try to keep the floor as clear as possible. Remove large rugs to create the illusion of more floor space.

Furniture placement
Using the right furniture is a key way to make a room look bigger. For one, use multi-functional furniture, such as a chest that can be used as a coffee table, a sofa bed, or a bed with storage drawers. Expandable dining tables, folding tables, and nesting tables, which can be tucked away when you don’t need them, are also good picks. Keep in mind that tall and bulky furniture can take up precious space. Choose a sofa and chairs with open arms and exposed legs. This allows light to filter under the furniture, making the room appear airier.
Scale your furniture to fit the size of the room. Place larger pieces of furniture against the walls to maximize the open space and make a small room look bigger. Also, don’t block pathways. If furniture and accessories block the view into a room, it will look cramped. The longest straight line in any room is the diagonal. When you place your furniture at an angle, it leads the eye along the longer wall. Bonus: You often get some additional storage space behind the piece.
Making the most of your space can also be achieved by under-bed storage or creative uses of closet space as well. Have an empty wall? Apartment Therapy designers suggest utilizing floating shelves and other smart design options.

Happy House remodeling!

Ar. Ramiz Baig
Principal Architect – RBD Architecture and Interior Design Studio

Immediate Past Chairman – Institute of Architects Pakistan, Karachi Chapter 2018-2020 Honorary Secretary – Architects Regional Council Asia (ARCASIA) 2017-2018

In a time of revolutionary technological development dominating our lives, the thought of traditional construction techniques may appear to be regressive, but vernacularity symbolizes more than just wistful yearning. Instead, it is about learning from a time when different cultures and spaces were in harmony with the ecology and natural integrity of a place. Vernacular architecture incorporated efficient use of resources, resulting in ingenious forms that were culturally adaptive and sustainable at the same time. People discovered and invented ways to fulfill their needs while sensitively dealing with forces of nature, and achieved their aspirations by by working with natural phenomena rather than against it. Over the years, it has become imperative for us to seek the wonders of vernacular systems given the ever-growing need of the urban populations. For that, one needs to discuss the fundamentals of vernacular architecture that can guide us to enhance our environment, and perhaps, start from a shelter.

It is without a doubt that tackling the 21st-century urban housing problem is a challenging task. These people construct with local materials and make use of the self- help mechanism incrementally to cater to their growing family necessities and develop their homes, and this culture of user contribution to the building process is just beginning to be acknowledged. We need to realize that social status is temporary and multi-use spaces should be adaptable and allow opportunities for personalization. Flexible spaces put less burden on our environmental resources, as compared to spaces designed for specialized and single-use. This presents itself in stark contrast to the traditional construction techniques that cater to the growing needs of its users. Therefore, not only is flexible design a hallmark for a vernacular and sustainable mode of construction, the encouragement of resources that already dwell in the determination and skill of people will lay the ground for economical settlements for a great bulk of the population.

The process of construction itself utilizes a great amount of energy, and we need to find ways of lessening this consumption. An important aspect of vernacular architecture is the use of local materials for construction. The availability of these materials vary by geography; rammed earth, red brick, and bamboos are some popular examples. These materials respond to their environments well towards heat gain and heat loss. In addition, local materials require minimum transport and use lower energy inputs for production in most cases. The use of local materials also offers familiarity and belonging through the projects lifecycle – knowledge transfer during construction, and ownership in the years after.

It is a noteworthy observation that vernacular communities are also defined by their economical use of land and tightness of form which brings several social and environmental benefits in contrast to modern spaces. Of course, land is an important resource and its preservation is pivotal to all ecosystems. Vernacular settlements often

require much less infrastructure such as roads and piped water supplies, and generally have a much lower unit cost for their entire development. Along with that, it perceives the building as a living entity shaped in consonance with distinct cultural and social needs. Driven by simple architectural principles, traditional settlements contain spaces that breed spontaneity and create a secure environment that encourages people to interact with their communities. This is because the integrity of a shelter in high-density settlements is often suited to the specific cultural values and lifestyles of its people, reinforced through family traditions and a sense of community.

In conclusion, through the use of sustainable techniques such as energy conservation schemes, flexible designs, and adaptive reuse of buildings, we can begin to master the art of existing in harmony with nature and save our ecosystem from further deterioration. We need to understand that vernacular architecture has provided us with an abundance of lessons for a meaningful connection with the spirit of place. This connection that is arbitrated through traditional values and knowledge acts as a precious lesson for the rather orthodox architecture of the twenty-first century. Perhaps, it is time we strive for environmentally friendly communities and reunite intimately with the ecological gradations of culture and region.

Sustainability is the buzz word of our time; sustainable constructions are a way to reduce the negative impacts of harmful emissions in the environment. It is a broad term to explore and my take for this article will be talking over the techniques and design strategies suitable for constructing a sustainable sound building in context of our city, Karachi.

There are many debates and discussions about finding the Vernacular for Karachi. Vernacular just do not mean the use of local materials, which is in our case is just stone, obviously due to the rapid construction rate, stone just would not be enough. So, what is then Vernacular? Well, we all have heard the great examples of modern architecture in west followed by use of concrete and glass, big openings, big vistas, inside-outside connections so on, but have we ever thought to afford the expense of living inside them, if we have designed here, we would have burned inside of them. Modernity follows the lack of place; it is a universal movement with universal strategies without taking context into considerations, so in my opinion vernacular starts with bringing the thinking of using local techniques, like the use of proper ventilation, Incorporation of indirect lighting, using minimal material, clutter free spaces, bringing the landscape inside our homes, all of these techniques will bring a design that will not only be vernacular but also functional and livable.

I was looking into the works of Architect Geoffrey Bawa, He was the one who designed almost all of his buildings around the landscape, thanks to the topography of Sri Lanka too, for him the views were important, besides being a man of modern thinking, the point here is he never neglected the rich context surrounding the building, I want you to pin this point here!

33rd Lane house plan by Geoffrey Bawa, Source: Google images.

Another famous architect from Balkrishna V. Doshi, a Pritzker Prize winning Architect from India, when we analyze his work, we can easily see how the integration of local crafts and communities are kept into considerations along with giving solutions to raising housing issues in India.

 

Aryana housing project by B.V Doshi, street view and sketches, Source: Google images
Now we have got an idea that how being a modernist is not just the way it works in our context we need to learn the techniques from these Critical regionalist architects whose works are highly modern but yet respect the premises on which it is being built.

Our city falls into the Hot-Humid zone, that means the architecture here would be based on recessed entrances, central courtyards or pocket openings, so that light but not sun and wind can come inside the buildings, all we need is a curious mind and the local construction methods to incorporate these strategies.

Lastly, the strategies that I have came across while studying the context that we have here, is that the vernacular is such a broad thing to say, there is no such thing explored yet, but Critical Regionalism is the way forward, because analyzing into the precedent work in various Hot-Humid context there are many techniques in hand on which we can develop sustainable construction for Karachi yet modern for the city for that matter.

We just have to respect our place, tradition, local crafts, community and society, so in my opinion this is the fast track that will be instrumental for Karachi.

The construction industry is one of the most prominent consumers of minerals and natural resources by its very nature. The need and significance of sustainability in construction have become a debated topic due to the growing concerns over global warming and the finite nature of resources. This conventional truth caused increased pressure on construction firms to reduce their environmental impact.

What is Sustainable Construction?

Sustainable construction involves using renewable and recyclable materials on building projects to reduce energy consumption and toxic waste. The primary goal of this initiative is to decrease the industry’s impact on the environment by utilizing sustainable construction procedures, practicing energy efficiency, and harnessing green technology.

Hand-On Experience with Sustainable Construction

It was a sunny morning, a hectic routine and tired students busy with tedious architectural work, when suddenly their lethargy turned into a wave of excitement, invitation to the LOG workshop had been announced. The award-winning LOG Shelter formed part of the Barefoot Social Architecture initiative taken by renowned Pakistani Architect and Environmentalist, Madam Yasmeen Lari. Not only would it have a zerocarbon footprint and be constructed using ustainable materials like mud, lime, and bamboo but also serve as affordable housing for the low-income populace.

Contrary to our expectations of learning bamboo-cutting techniques from this three-tofive-day workshop, what the program actually entailed took us by surprise. We had to build a bamboo log from scratch. In a society that undermines our gender, I feel many of us have started to underestimate ourselves too. We are equally capable of performing work that is usually handed over to the men, provided an open mind and an unbiased platform. The team consisted entirely of women and we handled every aspect of the project ourselves. From purchasing and procuring material from street vendors to the construction, it was all done with the utmost vim and vigor. We learnt to work with sustainable materials such as lime, thatch, and bamboo. It gave us exposure to the on-field challenges faced by Architects and enhanced our team-management skills. As a team leader, I feel I came out of the experience as a more confident version of myself.

Yasmeen Lari’s Octa-Green Housing Structures

The Lari Octa-Green is designed to have a zero-carbon footprint: it uses no industrial materials such as steel or concrete. It is an eight-walled structure made of bamboo panels lined with date palm matting. The conical roof is inspired by the traditional chaura construction of Pakistan’s southern regions, while the bamboo frame is drawn from the cross-braced dhijji structure used in the north. Unlike traditional homes, however, this shelter is built of bamboo, a light and renewable material. The roof joists are foldable for easy delivery, and are covered in matting lined with tarpaulin. Families are encouraged to apply insulation using mud or lime on the outer walls and roof. The structure of the shelter is designed to be disaster risk reduction or DRR-compliant. The octagonal form is inherently strong and, unlike concrete, the light bamboo frames pose no danger to life. The mud exterior both provides ballast to prevent the shelter from overturning, and acts as insulation. Bamboo, though light-weight is a long-lasting material and the structure, though intended as transitional, can be used as quasi-permanently if needed.

Thanks to its simple construction methods, even unskilled workers can quickly and easily learn how to fabricate the shelter, while the roof panels are stitched by rural women, providing a potential source of livelihood to economically marginalized communities. The entire structure takes less than an hour to assemble. The low cost, ease of manufacture and erection, means that it could be dispensed through nodes in disaster-affected union councils, and delivered by trained artisans who can bring the product to market. Each structure has enough room for five people sleeping on the floor or two charpoys (string beds) with some space to walk around. This can be expanded by clustering structures together and leaving internal openings. The designers have devised tweaks to this basic technique for structures which can be used as toilets, kitchens, schools and a host of other functions.

It was a lifechanging experience for all of us, but with the constant guidelines from Madam Yasmeen Lari, it become possible for us to build such structure. Although the workshop was done and dusted with, the process we went through and the challenges we overthrew with our keen
dedication could never be forgotten. Our efforts led us to a stage where we saw ourselves as strong competitors to any challenge that awaited us in the future. May Madam Lari Live Long as she had provided housing to many of incapable ones!

MATERIAL AND SENSITIVITY OF SPACES with Arch. Saad Shah

A space is defined by the experience it creates the emotions that invigorates through its design. A well designed space is therefore one that evokes emotional sensibility. These sensory invigorating environments can be achieved through material exploration and experimentation.

A beautiful space is not just aesthetically pleasing but is one that evokes experiential sensitivity. This sensitivity is created through a thoughtful creation of textures and materials. With the wide variety of materials available it is a lot easier to want to apply everything in a space, however, the quality of a space can only be brought about by doing more with less.

The choice of material plays an important role in the type of atmospheres that are created. A space can either be quiet or be sensory loud. A meditation room can be devoid of all colors yet emit a sense of peace and calm with its limited use of materials. While a contrasting black and white patterned floor set against vibrant colors can depict a space that wants to be loud and speaks of grandeur.

The sensory quality of a space can be explained in the selection of finishes one chooses for a single material. A roughened surface of a stone will feel different to walk on than a polished one. An oak wooden floor can represent a feeling of lightness whereas rosewood can make the space seem grounded because of its dark tone.

Similarly, the size of the material used can further enhance or subdue how a space feels. A tile can be placed in a grid, or a pattern that is either geometric or abstract. It can be cut in different shapes and in varying proportions. The laying can be done uniformly or in a rhythmic repetition of different sizes. Each of these will add a unique character to its surroundings.

The endless possibilities present in the application of materials help in creating meaningful spaces. It plays an integral role in designing experiential atmospheres.

Ar. Saad Shah
Lead Architect – Identity Design Studio

House Renovation Ideas with Fahad Tariq Vohra.

Whether you’re looking for a new home or simply want to improve it for your own living, most homes could benefit from a bit of Home Renovation. That’s not to say that large-scale remodels are required, not at all. It all depends on your home situation and circumstances you could of course get as massively involved in home renovation as you want. But even small, strategic twists or fast DIY projects can make huge differences in the value of one’s Home.
A home that needs work can be a bargain to buy, but fixing it up can take a lot of time and money and turn into a huge project. The first impression of your house is your door. One shouldn’t underestimate the power of a front door. People make up their minds in the first seven seconds of entering a house. If you are unable to change the door completely and if your existing door is in a good condition then you should repaint your door. Your doors could also affect the lighting of your room, and you could benefit from this great technique.
The second most important impression of your house is your tiles. If you want to renovate your house consider the combination of the tiles with different textures. Sometimes changing the color of the tiles can completely change the feel of the floor. This is a popular topic for home renovation because it’s overlooked by many people. The thing about laying tile is that one of the easiest DIY project.
After living in our homes, we start to fail to notice the clutter that builds up around us, and our bedrooms are no exception. Take a few minutes or a couple of hours and clear it out. All of it. Even if it just means you transport said clutter into a style savvy container.

Arch. Fahad Tariq Vohra
Principle Architect – Fahad Tariq Vohra