Heritage Foundation and INTBAU Pakistan, with support from British Council, and in collaboration with ZCEC, an off-shoot of Heritage Foundation, BRAC University, NED, DUET and University of Lahore launched part two of the Joint Pakistan/Bangladesh Workshop for Construction of LOG UK Model, here today, at Denso Hall Rahguzar. Six students from Pakistan hailing from University of Lahore and NED, under the supervision of Syeda Komal Fatima, and six students from Bangladesh from BRAC University participated in the workshop, physically and through zoom, respectively and performed the tasks of master trainers to guide new participants in the workshop. Their activities were overseen by Naheem Shah and Ashfaq Ahmed of Heritage Foundation.
It may be noted that the workshop is being conducted to prepare the students for engaging in a similar activity in London in March, during EMPOWERISTAN scheduled to take place at Granary Square from March 21 to March 25. EMPOWERISTAN aims to celebrate Pakistan’s milestone 75th anniversary of Independence during PK-UK 2022 Season that will be run by the British Council to explore the connections between UK and PK, their contemporary context, their future and shared history of more than 400 years. EMPOWERISTAN’s activities will be part of the Season programming, highlighting the central role of women in revolutionising sustainable architecture and design. Thus, the need for workshops for female students who will learn to construct the bamboo LOG (Lari OctaGreen), which they will later replicate in London during the Season.
The first day of the three-day workshop began with registrations and introductions of all the students followed by introduction to the workshop by Ar. and founder of Heritage Foundation and ZCEC, Yasmeen Lari. Prof. Dr Zainab Faruqui Ali of BRAC then gave an introduction on behalf of BRAC University after which the students got to work on the second phase of the installation of the LOG using four prefab wall panels already assembled by students in the previous three days, while four wall panels and roof were fabricated from scratch. The sessions ended at 4:30 with refreshments each day. It may be noted that today, on the third day, (February 23) there were also two panel discussions by eminent experts from Pakistan and Bangladesh to popularize climate resilient structures and direct attention towards unmet needs of marginalized women.
The first session of the panel discussion was from from 10:30 am till 12 pm, on Engagement of universities and youth with zero-carbon movement. The Pakistan panelists included Ar./Plnr. Sadia Fazli, Registrar PCATP, Prof. Cassandra Cozza, Politecnico di Milan (by zoom), Dr Yasira Pasha, DUET and Ar. Komal Fatima, UOL. Bangladesh panelists participating via zoom included Suhailey Farzana (community architect, Co-Creation), Ishita Alam Aboni (World Bank, master planning on informal settlements) and Mahmuda Akhter (community architect, POCAA). The session was moderated by Ar. Khadija Jamal Shaban.
The second panel discussion was held from 3:00 pm till 4:30 pm, on Socio- and eco-justice, and dignity for marginalized women. The Pakistan panelists included: Parvinder Marwaha, British Council, London, Laila Jamil, British Council, Karachi and Prof. Dr Elke Krasny, Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. The Bangladesh panelists included Rizwana Hasan (Environmental lawyer), Salma Shafi (architect, planner), and Runa Khan (Friendship Hospital). The session was moderated by humanitarian/journalist, Shanaz Ramzi.
