State Life Building

Mirpur Khas, Pakistan

On a purely functional level, the State Life Building provides office accommodation for an insurance company. More than this, it attempts to create a landmark for a small town bypassed by recent economic development. The building celebrates local traditions, with its sloped walls, brick 'jalis' and rich Sindh tapestry of masonry work and glazed tiles. Although it now incorporates a centralised air-conditioning system, it was designed to be energy-efficient. The internal courtyards contain waterfalls and water vaporisers which could be combined with the building's five cooling towers as part of an overall evaporative cooling process.

Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture