The Heritage Foundation of Pakistan, established in 1980 by Yasmeen Lari and noted historian Suhail Zaheer Lari, is a Karachi-based non-profit organisation dedicated to conserving the country’s historic architecture and cultural heritage. It aims to document and preserve traditional structures, raise awareness about Pakistan’s rich architectural diversity, and promote cultural heritage as a tool for social integration, peace, and development.

Beyond heritage conservation, the foundation is deeply involved in humanitarian efforts, notably constructing affordable, low-carbon, prefabricated bamboo one-room structures for households affected by natural disasters. These flood- and seismic-resilient, permanent, cottage-like units are assembled on lime concrete foundations, tied securely with bolts, covered with roof thatching and walls wrapped in handmade reed matting, rendered with lime plaster, and each personalised by rural women with earth paintings. The same prefab units can be used as emergency relief, quickly tied with rope and covered with reed matting or tarpaulin, with instructional YouTube guides aiding communities in self-assembly.

In Sindh, the foundation fosters vernacular architectural traditions, viewing heritage as an evolving process that integrates both modifications and innovations. Its impactful contributions have earned it prestigious recognition, including the UN Recognition Award (2002), the Islamic Development Bank Prize (2013), and a World Habitat Award (2018).

As Pakistan’s first female architect, Yasmeen Lari’s journey from international modernism for the elite to zero-carbon architecture for the masses has been widely recognised and honoured internationally. She received the prestigious RIBA Royal Gold Medal for Architecture in 2023 for her lifetime contribution to architecture. These and other awards highlight her impact on sustainable design, humanitarian architecture, and cultural preservation. She has honorary doctorates from Politecnico di Milano and Oxford Brookes University. She is Honorary Fellow of Jesus College and Sir Arthur Marshall Visiting Professor for Sustainable Urban Design (2022–23) at the University of Cambridge.

Website:

https://hw.heritagefoundationpak.org

Source: Aga Khan Award for Architecture