Newsblog
Lari Octa Green Emergency Shelters
In order to deal with the shelter emergency, Heritage Foundation Pakistan has provided the displaced families of the flood sticken village, Pono Village with the ‘Lari Octa Green’ shelters, a sustainable green construction. The structure can be fabricated and erected at a very rapid pace. It takes in fact only a couple of hours to build one bamboo shelter, making it extremely time saving considering the emergency at hand. Up till now 15 shelters have been made and more are under construction.
Heritage Foundation’s Flood Emergency Response: Aqifer Trench Project
In the past few days, following the disasters due to the heavy rains in the Sindh region, Heritage Foundation Pakistan reached out to some of the worst hit villages in Makli and Mirpurkhas (Pono Village), elaborating effective and economical approaches through vernacular methodologies. Calamities like this one prove us once again that climate change is not science fiction but destroys real people’s lives in the snap of a finger. The strategy has been developed by Heritage Foundation CEO Ar. Lari who has brought together a compact team of collaborators willing to give their contribution. Rainwater drainage process coordinated by Miss Lari’s team of experts has started to get executed with the support of the villagers. A low-cost approach has been studied and analyzed starting from the aquifer trench, which will serve to collect the stagnant rainwater that is 8/9 inches deep and spread over at various locations in the distressed area. All actions will include maximum participation of affected households themselves, strengthening their capabilities and skills. Targeted training modules are in fact offered for implementing partners, volunteers, artisans and communities. The strategy also includes the transfer of prefabricated bamboo shelters that will be directly sent to the villages and composed on-site by the community.
Pono Village is located in the district of Mirpurkhas (Sindh) which in the past week has witnessed incredible damage from the heavy rains. A solution to drain the water out of the village has been studied and examined by the Heritage Foundation Pakistan.
The solution that’s been brought up is to create an aquifer trench (4’-0’’x4’-0’’) that will act as a natural drain for the rainwater.
As drawn on the map, in red is shown the path that must be followed in order to dig the aquifer trench. The latter will follow the left side of the main road surrounding the right side of the village.The Project will be later on be developed into a more structured one, that will include the creation of a forest along the main road and a boundary wall positioned right next the aquifer trench.
Heritage Foundation’s Flood Emergency Response
In the past few days, following the disasters due to the heavy rains in the Sindh region, Heritage Foundation Pakistan reached out to some of the worst hit villages in Makli and Mirpurkhas (Pono Village), elaborating effective and economical approaches through vernacular methodologies. Calamities like this one prove us once again that climate change is not science fiction but destroys real people’s lives in the snap of a finger. The strategy has been developed by Heritage Foundation CEO Ar. Lari who has brought together a compact team of collaborators willing to give their contribution. Rainwater drainage process coordinated by Miss Lari’s team of experts has started to get executed with the support of the villagers. A low-cost approach has been studied and analyzed starting from the aquifer trench, which will serve to collect the stagnant rainwater that is 8/9 inches deep and spread over at various locations in the distressed area. All actions will include maximum participation of affected households themselves, strengthening their capabilities and skills. Targeted training modules are in fact offered for implementing partners, volunteers, artisans and communities. The strategy also includes the transfer of prefabricated bamboo shelters that will be directly sent to the villages and composed on-site by the community
Yasmeen Lari awarded the Best Humanitarian Architect of Pakistan by Diplomatic Business Council.
CEO Heritage Foundation, Architect Yasmeen Lari was awarded the Best Humanitarian Architect of Pakistan Award at a function organised by Diplomatic Business Council last night (13th August 2022). Award received from Mr. Murtaza Wahab, provincial minister and administrator KMC, with Mr. Umar Shaikh, president of organization.
Topics: eNews
Terracotta tiles production restart by Makli Kashi women to be used at Historic Kharadar Chowk.
Makli Kashi women restart terracotta tiles production. After several months of inactivity women artisans belonging to the Kashi group have begun production of their famous terracotta tiles. This us the first time that orders have been directly placed with them by stakeholders in the development of Kharadar Chowk.
So far orders have given for their pathway by the mosque committee while some are by shopkeepers for their front pavement.
Topics: eNews
Sunday breakfast at Denso Hall Rahguzar for Chief Secretary Mr Sohail Rajput and other dignitaries.
On Sunday 31 at the traditional street breakfast hosted by Architect Yameen Lari, at Denso Hall Rahguzar Walking Street, a significant gathering of those interest in regeneration of Karachi took place. The assembly consisted of Chief Secretary Mr. Sohail Rajput, Secretary Implementation, Mr. M. Khalid, DIG Sharjil Kharal and his friend from Jinnah Hospital, ex-banker and chairman HBFC Mr. Shehzad Naqvi, ex PSO Managing Director Mr. Tariq Kimani, Director HF Ms. Shanaz Ramzi, Karavan committee head Mr. Arif Bahalim, supporters of the Rahguzar Mr. Zain Fazal and Ms. Aasya Zain along with civil society member Ms. Shayma Saiyid.
The discussion focused on the present devasting urban flooding took place in the city and the search of viable solutions. It was considered important to see what sort of measures could be enforced in order to minimize flooding in the city and how the rahguzar model designed by Architect Lari could be replicated.
Lari had explained how the street was entirely low carbon and the concept was that no water should be drained on to surrounding roads, but the entire ensemble was designed to absorb its flood waters through terracotta tiles, porous pavement, aquifer wells and large areas of forests. Through this eco methodology we were able to not only drain our water into the soil, the rahguzar helped to absorb a vast amount of water from the surrounding MA Jinnah Road, Napier Road and the 3 katchi galis contiguous to the rahguzar.
Yasmeen Lari suggested three different strategies for implementation, which would all lead to participation by other stakeholders and foster a sense of ownership. She recommended dividing the city to be taken up under different methodologies, which was generally agreed upon:
1. Replication of the rahguzar along the Red Trail which was already notified by Commissioner Karachi’s office and that was designed in 13 segments. Since the first had been completed by Heritage Foundation, the others could be taken up in alternative segments in order to be least disruptive i.e., 6 to be taken up this year and another 6 next year. She suggested Government investment of 45% of civil works cost estimated at 1,900,000 with another 4k5% investment by banks ad 10% by shop keepers and local residents. A committee could be formed with DC South as Project Director with membership drawn from investor bankers and others to control all aspects. CS suggested forming an association or society to which government funds could be allocated, along with other funding to be controlled by Project Director. Each rahguzar committee could accordingly have control of the funds and their disbursement. Thus, for each segment a committee could be formed. Architect Lari informed that the role of Heritage Foundation would be to provide guidance, and relevant drawings etc. Thus, each rahguzar would have its own funding and implementation committee.
2. The second strategy would consist of encouraging corporate sector to take up areas in their vicinity and implement methodologies developed by Lari for minimizing flooding in the area. She suggested that Mr. Tariq Kiramni should help in engaging the present MD PSO to rehabilitate the area around the PSO House and also help to make the nallah into an effective aquifer well for absorbing the water in the area. Mr. Kirmani agreed to pursue the matter. If we were successful in getting the corporate sector engaged in the process, much could be done.
3. Development of a masterplan for dealing with catchment areas, low lying areas and parks etc. water reservoirs and wetlands could be developed to retain flood waters of the parks and reuse the water for their own use. Above all the waters generated within open spaces will no longer be drained on to roads to minimize road flooding. These could be funded and implemented by the government itself.
Other measures could include rain water harvesting by buildings to prevent water being discharged on roads. Also redesign of pavements to retain water into the soil rather than draining on roads.
4. She quoted the example of Kharadar chowk where people are removing their own encroachments voluntarily and where they are beginning to contribute to the development of the area as well as establishing the Kharadar Chowk Bagh. Such initiatives that involve the community as investors and stakeholders will go a long way in developing neighborhood enclaves by converting underused roads etc. for creating climate smart recreational spaces to be taken care of by people themselves.
5. CS Sohail Rajput said that meetings can be held on Saturdays in which various issues could be discussed. Secretary Implementation said he will arrange meetings for the following:
a. Selection of 6 segments on the Red Trail and to establish a structure for funding, disbursement and implementation.
b. Presentation of potential for corporate sector to finance and implement climate smart and flood prevention methodologies in their area.
c. Masterplan of the city for measures required for prevention of flooding.
d. Identification and mobilization of communities to take up flood prevention methodologies in their own areas at the Mohalla level.
Topics: eNews
Heritage & Ecology-Led CLIMATE-SMART URBANISM (Denso Hall Rahguzar Walking Street)
Heritage & Ecology-Led
CLIMATE-SMART URBANISM
Denso Hall Rahguzar
Walking Street
Prototype for Urban Regeneration of Karachi’s
Historic Core
Yasmeen Lari SI HI Fukuoka & Jane Drew Prize Laureate
With
Irshad Ali Sodhar BA (LSE) PAS
Topics: Karachi Heritage Publication