Concept of shifting to
mud architecture us creating waves in Pakistan. It is heartening to know that a lot is happening to convert this concept in to a reality in the form of proposed Mud Village, Peerzada Festival Area, Lahore.
Mud is an excellent construction material. It is being used as a building material since prehistoric times. Mud structures can still be found in a variety of climates across the globe; In Pakistan, it is most strongly associated with rural culture. The idea of mud building is now coming to urban areas. Construction of model mud village in Lahore is the case in point.
Society for the Promotion of Art and Culture (SPARC), registered in Lahore since 1994, is starting construction of mud village for handicraft men. Prof. Dr. Norbert Pintsch (Senior Expert Service Bonn, Germany) is planning to coordinating the project and giving it a practical shape.
Prof. Dr. Norbert Pintsch is an experienced architect by profession is very passionate about mud architecture. Since completing first building project as an architect at the age of 18, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch has been in various activities as an architect and civil engineer all his life.
In addition, Iqbal, a local builder from Harrapa, Ghayyoor Obaid, a local architecture and very interested in mud construction material, Peerzada Festival Area, a concern that is providing space for construction of mud village near world famous Puppetry Museum are also involved in the project. Beacon House University, Department of Architecture and Building Research Institute are also likely to participate.
It is not good enough to assume that “everything from the past is good. It is necessary to show,” says Dr. Norbert Pintsch who is very passionate about the project. Like national University in Colombia where students practice construction with local materials like bamboo and wood, the project will give an opportunity to the students of Beacon House University to practice what they have been learning while adapting the construction technique mixed with appropriate technology in Pakistan.
Prof. Dr. Norbert Pintsch never gets tired of talking about his passion and, given my own interest, I don’t get tired of listening about the details of the project. Please stay tuned and I will endeavor to bring every detail as the project unfolds.
Labels: Lahore, Mud Architecture
posted by S A J Shirazi @ Thursday, October 01, 2009,
3 Comments:
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At 10:19 PM PKST,
jalalHB said...
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Hope the idea will work - as it works in the rural areas - sometime back there used to be adrug store in Rawalpindi Sadar which had mud plastering - alas!! this landmark has now been taken over by full glass showroom window
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At 1:20 AM PKST,
Ian Draper said...
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Hi Shi,
A long time since l was posting on your blogs but this was as you know because of being so busy. This is an interesting concept but l have not seen it before as it is not much seen in the UK but sounds interesting as does all your posts, l read but do not always comment. Speak soon l hope take care your friend always. Ian
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At 3:25 AM PKST,
said...
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The problem with mud architecture is that it doesn't stand up to rain very well. Back around 1980, an Iranian solved that, though: build a fire within the structure for a few days, and it is transformed into brick. See "Ceramic Houses and Earth Architecture: How to Build Your Own" by Nader Khalili.
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jalalHB said...
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