Façade Consultant: Shahzad Nadeem Khan
Client: Mohammad Ahmed Shah (President Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi)
Architect: Shaikh Abdul Basit and Muhammad Talha Muftee
Façade Contractor: Kabir Ahmed
Located in the vibrant heart of Karachi, Pakistan, this architectural marvel stands as a testament to the city’s rich cultural heritage and its forward-looking embrace of innovation. As part of the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi (ACPKHI), the building serves as a dynamic hub for artistic expression, cultural exchange, and community engagement. Designed through the collaborative efforts of Shaikh Abdul Basit, who handled construction and execution, and Muhammad Talha Muftee, who led parametric design and construction drawing automation, the structure exemplifies the seamless fusion of technical precision and artistic vision.
Multimodal design methods were employed to push the boundaries of architectural expression, particularly in the innovative use of bricks through parametric design. The design process was guided by a meticulous balance of technical, spatial, and environmental considerations, which informed the limits and variations in the façade’s perforations. These perforations not only enhance the building’s aesthetic appeal but also optimize its thermal performance, ensuring energy efficiency and environmental sustainability—a critical consideration in Karachi’s diverse climate, which ranges from intense heat to monsoon rains. Moreover, the perforation mechanism is a contemporary reimagination of the traditional "Jali" (perforated screen) which has been a common architectural element in this region for centuries as a climate control interface.
Image credits: Syed Hassan Haider
Digital media tools played a pivotal role in bridging the gap between technical performance and creative exploration. This integration allowed for the seamless translation of complex parametric designs into tangible architectural elements. The façade itself serves as a public landmark, prominently featuring the name and logo of ACPKHI, reinforcing the institution’s mission to celebrate and preserve Pakistan’s artistic legacy under the guidance of its president Mr. Mohammad Ahmed Shah. On the opposite side, a large-scale brick portrait of the renowned Pakistani artist Sadequain has been intricately rendered, paying homage to his legacy while maintaining the building’s thermal efficiency.
Image credits: Syed Hassan Haider
Image credits: Syed Hassan Haider
The design does not offer a conventional brick laying job so, a new construction method was developed and then named “Bead Stringing” technique for bricks on galvanized iron pipes with progressive rotations. Normally a brick wall is made with a bonding material like cement and sand mortar but in this case, one additional member Galvanized iron pipes was also used along with the top and bottom armature, which played a pivotal role in the formation and stability of the brick screen wall. The challenge was to incorporate the pipes like a spinal cord in each column and put brick on it as “Bead Stringing”. Over 40,000 bricks were used, with specific position of each brick on each layer/course and this construction technique was instrumental in achieving the level of detail and precision the project required. This method, which combines traditional masonry with cutting-edge digital innovation, enabled the seamless integration of complex patterns and textures into the façade. The result is a building that not only stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts of Shaikh Abdul Basit and Muhammad Talha Muftee but also sets a new standard for the fusion of art, technology, and sustainability in regional architecture of Pakistan.
Image credits: Syed Hassan Haider
As a new landmark in Karachi’s urban landscape, the ACPKHI building embodies the spirit of the city itself: resilient, innovative, and deeply connected to its artistic and cultural roots. It stands as a beacon of creativity, inviting the people of Karachi and beyond to engage with the arts in a space that is as functional as it is inspiring. By harmonising traditional craftsmanship with digital innovation, the project exemplifies how architecture can respond to the unique challenges of its context while celebrating the cultural identity of its surroundings.
Image credits: Syed Hassan Haider