Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Yasmeen Lari

Architect Yasmeen Lari holds the distinction of being the first chairperson of Pakistan Council of Architects and Town Planners (PCATP, besides being a past President of Institute of Architects Pakistan, and a Fellow of US-based Ashoka, the well-known international social entrepreneur organization.

She also happened to be the first woman architect of Pakistan. After schooling at Lahore, Pakistan, she graduated from Oxford School of Architecture (Oxford Brookes University) and was elected Member of Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

In recognition of her services to the architectural profession and heritage conservation, she was awarded Sitara-e-Imtiaz by the Government of Pakistan. She has also received UN Recognition Award for promotion of culture and peace. Her profile was published by UNESCO among 60 women internationally who have contributed most towards its objectives.

As principal of Lari Associates, Architects, Urban Designers from 1964 to 2000 she designed a large number of state of the art buildings for the upper circuit along with work in informal settlements, low income housing and vernacular technologies for the lower circuit.

As head of Heritage Foundation, Architect Yasmeen Lari has been instrumental in saving some unique heritage treasures of Pakistan. She has authored and co-authored several monographs and publications on history and heritage.