Karachi: Royal Institute of British Architects granted its prestigious Royal Gold Medal for 2023 to Yasmeen Lari, Pakistan’s first female architect celebrated world over for her humanitarian work, especially her dedication to providing low-cost, zero-carbon housing solutions for marginalised communities. She received this award, personally mandated by King Charles making it first of its kind. 

In particular, award citation highlights Lari’s work with Heritage Foundation of Pakistan, which she co-founded with her husband Suhail Zaheer Lari in 1980 after her retirement. Over past 23 years, Lari and her organisation have provided imaginative and creative solutions to address physical and psychological damage caused by natural disasters, earthquakes, floods and conflicts in Pakistan.

Following in footsteps of Zaha Hadid, Lari is sixth woman in world  to acquire Royal Gold Medal in her own right and first Pakistani architect to do so.

Lari established her own successful architecture studio Lari Associates in Karachi in 1969, it was her work with marginalised communities that garnered global attention. She has been advocating for use of traditional materials such as mud, lime and bamboo to create low-impact buildings that can lead to carbon-neutral constructions.

In recent years, Lari has been instrumental in launching and popularizing various projects such as self-built shelters, giant bamboo community centres, terracotta tiling for streets and lastly award-winning ecological cooking stoves.

Yasmin Lari’s efforts in architecture have been universally appreciated and recognised and she has also received numerous awards including Jane Drew Prize in 2022, which acknowledged her hard work and efforts to promote and create awareness regarding gender equality in field.

Published in The Daily National Courier, May, 02 2023

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