Banjaiga Architectural Magazine

Surrounded by lush tall trees, this renovation project is on a 40x140ft lot and previously part of a duplex. Basically there are 02-mirrored identical houses on this lot. The rear house is put on rent while the client is the one facing east. Since the existing house was inadequately small, the client wanted a uniquely designed, easy-maintenance extra space for his young family The whole house has been designed around existing trees and they are used to reinforce the buildings' identity. A beautiful banana plant right beside the entrance makes a playful dialogue between nature and the built. Interestingly both this plant and the building seem growing up together as the plant was only a few feet high when construction work began.

The Writers Box is an ongoing expansion to M/s Suhail and Fawad Architects Residential portfolio in Islamabad. This split level home in Islamabad has been intended for the famous poet and columnist Harris Khalique, his better half Shabana and their two kids. The idea was to create an open frame plan with multiple levels which would celebrate the natural environment, abiding the famous architectural philosophy of “function over form” in the sense that the final product is heavily dependent on interaction on part of the owners and visitors alike. Therefore, the house was meant to act as a transparent box from outside, but on the inside, airy and well lit.

To implement this idea, the residence has been divided both horizontally & vertically through which the overall design of the residence centers around oneself made garden in the focal point of the house, but its outside perspectives opens out to an existing open park and beautiful green scenery. This division makes the rooms be placed on various levels in a way that each gets a balcony and green spaces to look out, but they also somehow have a view into the central courtyard on every level.

Moreover, the architectural elements are particularly conceptualized with each room opening out to either man-made patios or green spaces. However, small and large balconies are included on outer sides as a significant element with brick jaalis standing tall before the grey and terracotta palate used to balance the blue of the metal. Thus, the blend of this strategy makes house sufficiently bright for the duration of the day while around evening time it turns the house into a private inward looking garden with wide corridors, living rooms, bed rooms and two storied library opening into it.

Further, the formal drawing room is in the basement opening directly into focal water court which is designed as a garden with sitting space, plantations and tensile fabric covers over it, so that it can be used throughout the day.

In nutshell, the play of volumes, solids and voids with diverse color palette & brick is adopted to enhance the quality of space and it is an excellent attempt into an inward courtyard plan but making sure that external views are not compromised and natural light, cross ventilation and colors continuously contribute to the contemplative atmosphere of the interiors.

The story of DownTown Slice begins back in May 2018. From humble beginnings as a single yet premium pizza restaurant in Islamabad, the DownTown Slice Pizza has become renowned and recognized name in the pizza industry. Since the beginning, we have been dedicated to make the best pizza in town with the ingredients of highest quality. We are constantly working to update the menu and bringing the bestest of flavors to you. And we have a lot more in pipeline for our valuable customers.

The house is situated in Karachi’s neighborhood of Defence Phase VIII, a large expanse of low lying, barren land. It aims to respond to the absence of built and natural context, and the security and privacy constraints that constitute life in this city.

It is a house for a small family, a couple with two daughters and their grandmother. The architecture of the house is a solid gesture, with a central opening. The proportion of columns amidst this central space, and the elements that constitute it create an atmosphere for light and air, and a space to sit, to pass by and to live in.