The Atelier Community,
The idea to have a forum for informal interaction between the students and teachers of Architecture of Karachi was that of Hamid Khan. When civil engineer Hamid Khan and his wife, architect and academic Sheba Akhtar, built their house in 2011, a basement which could be the venue for such interaction, became an important part of its design. The philosophy of the Atelier is “
to nurture the love of learning” in the fields of Architecture and Design, by facilitating dialogue between all those who seek such learning. By bringing together students, teachers, practitioners and other interested individuals, there is an exchange of ideas, knowledge and skills, which is beneficial to all. The Atelier is fortunate to have been supported, from its very conception, by like-minded professionals, in particular by architect and educator Sehr Bokhari. More recently, the project has received an enthusiastic welcome from designer and educator Zain Mustafa. Friends of the Atelier, mostly young design professionals, continue to grow in number, strongly indicating the desire for a platform of this kind; new members are bringing with them a wealth of diverse backgrounds, interests and experience. As a result, the Atelier is changing in nature from being a forum devoted exclusively to Architecture to a more comprehensive one that encompasses the entire spectrum of design scales, from Environmental and Urban Planning to Product Design. It is hoped that, as space and resources permit, the Atelier would further broaden its scope of activities to include all the arts. Moreover, it is envisioned that, as the Atelier continues to evolve, it would incorporate additional educational and professional development programmes, such as publications, exhibitions, design competitions and travel opportunities. The Atelier holds its sessions on alternate Sundays, from 12 noon until 2pm. Sessions alternate between informal meetings and scheduled events, such as lectures, presentations or workshops.
