Arts Thread

Karachi is one of the major cities of Pakistan with a rich and diverse cultural heritage which includes many architectural styles and histories. Growing urban areas, development trends, population increase, ecological, and economic issues have led to urban decay of the old historic city and the abandonment of architectural heritage. Buildings often outlive their original purpose, a phenomenon evident in Karachi. This thesis explores the symbolic history of the US Embassy in Karachi, designed by modernist architect Richard Neutra. Initially embraced by optimism, it succumbed to controversy and was left abandoned. Through the efforts of local architects and the Neutra Institute, it escaped demolition and is awaiting redevelopment. As the world is in a climate emergency, circular ways of thinking have become an important aspect, and adaptive reuse has become an integral part of architectural discourse. Reuse can help tackle climate change but can also add value to the architectural project by adding different layers of narratives, strengthening the sense of place, and assisting people to connect with it. Karachi has many redundant buildings (including the U.S. Embassy building) that can be reused to meet current environmental needs and growing urbanization. Neutra Institute seeks to convert the Embassy building into a cultural centre. Their plan involves carefully restoring the building and treating it as a monument this approach prioritizes certain history while diminishing the additions made throughout the years. Such an approach will be deemed as inauthentic and authoritarian. Instead of restoring the structure to its original state, this thesis takes a more nuanced approach- the intervention seeks to “Reframe” the building by reinterpreting its previous architectural elements and spatial conditions to create fresh, cultural and contextually relevant effects rooted in the ideas people. This approach promotes a more open and inclusive vision for its future. The thesis proposes “Five Points for Adaptive Reuse” through which five strategies were derived for redeveloping the U.S. Embassy building. A larger urban intervention is also envisioned through a network of underground tunnels connecting multiple nearby public sites. This network will allow people to move safely between different public sites, shielded from road traffic above.