Critical Regionalist Approach to Architecture: Lessons to be Learnt From Three Case Studies From Karachi

Abstract

Critical Regionalism, as a theory, stresses on contextual connection of built form in terms of its link to society, physicality and climatic response. It is critical of nostalgic interpretation and representation of built form in countries which have remained colonies. The theory around Critical Regionalism, at times, is also shunned as merely a ‘style’, lacking evolution and social connect with the local context. Although Critical Regionalism as a theory is restricted to a certain scale and typology of buildings, its contribution beyond the built form itself is little researched. Thus, the objective of this paper is to evaluate the impact of public buildings, three universities, at Karachi which were designed around the concepts propagated by Critical Regionalist theory. This analysis is carried out within the larger debate of globalisation and localisation. The key factors focused are the response to climate, society, development of local aesthetics, connections with memory and identity and local urban morphology. Another aspect of analysis attempted through review of theories of other disciplines, geography and anthropology, is aimed towards drawing lessons in terms of research methods and vantage points which can inform Critical Regional theories. A case study methodology, along with ten qualitative interviews of architects and a focus group, has been used to generate data. The findings point towards the valuable contribution of these buildings in terms of climate, social and aesthetic response, and the limitations in terms of replicability to other building typologies and lack of establishment of a critical dialogue with larger