When it comes to architecture, each city in Pakistan plays host to several unique styles of buildings. These landmarks, scattered across the country, are positive representatives of good craftsmanship.
Now as a country, we may be behind in the domain of emerging trends – when compared with the rest of the world. But the sophistication of our existing architectural themes is simply undeniable.
Changing trends in local architecture
Over the years, Pakistan has experienced several prominent architectural trends. As is the case in all industries, some of these are truly timeless. Others continue to get taken over by better designs.
In the last half decade, however, this shift has been more dramatic.
Following on this pattern, the newest architectural trends focus on providing greater living convenience. And since homeowners have now become increasingly concerned about reducing utility costs, they factor this issue in their design makeups too.
Architectural trends in Pakistan
At the moment, the following list of trends reigns supreme in the country’s architectural sphere:
Influenced from abroad
A lot of people choose to live in foreign countries for a wide variety of reasons. Living abroad impacts a person’s perspective of home designs. This is why we tend to see western influences in many Pakistani homes these days. Several ‘high-life’ home elements can be attributed to this reason.
Energy-efficiency
In an aim to save energy costs, homeowners want their hired architects to design green homes.
In Pakistan, we experience high temperatures for the greater part of the year. Meanwhile, the short winter season can be just as intense. So energy-efficient homes are fast becoming a necessity; given the country’s ever-ongoing series of energy crises.
Smaller homes
A while ago, Pakistanis were prone to building large residences. This trend has now shifted in the favour of building smaller homes. Nowadays, homeowners increasingly want architects to prioritise functionality over size.
Newer homes may be smaller, but they don’t compromise on space. Prioritising a home’s functionality ensures room constructions that are smartly spacious.
Architects also make use of open-plan layouts. For those who don’t want to restrict their privacy, a broken-plan layout provides similar benefits.
Larger windows
The trend of maintaining smaller-sized windows has long gone. Instead, homeowners now want windows to reach from their floors to their skilfully-set ceilings. Often, the windows also serve the secondary purpose of being a door.
These types of installations don’t just look contemporary. They also let in more natural light, which is more in-line with architectural ‘green practices’. Meanwhile, modern home installation technologies, such as glazed glass, prevent overheating problems in local residences.
Focus on outdoor spaces
Lawns have always been an integral part of Pakistani homes. But the trend has now evolved.
Gardens are not just grass and flower beds anymore. People lucky enough to possess a reasonable amount of space choose to fully landscape their gardens. Installations like pergolas, fountains, patios, and decks feature commonly in these spaces.
Some homeowners go to great lengths to install artificial grass turfs. These nifty home provisions drastically reduce maintenance efforts, cost, and lifespan of a larger garden.
Apart from gardens, curb appeal has also become an architectural focus for many people. No longer do homes look like simple concrete structures – when judged for their exterior view. Instead, architectural elements enhance the exterior aesthetic, as well as the home’s overall value.
Interior decorations
Interior designing is not only about furniture and furnishings anymore. We can now identify certain construction elements that complement the interior décor of a room. False ceilings, unique staircase designs, and textured accent walls are some good examples of these add-ons.
Pakistan boasts a number of gifted architects who are actively innovating in this field. Amer Adnan Associates, Edwags, and Aenzay Interiors & Architects are few good names to list.
If we talk about the overall shift in Pakistani architectural trends, then it would suffice to say that we are moving towards more contemporary choices.
Still, most architects are also cognizant of local home traditions. These maestros realise that we have a cultural heritage – especially in the area of home designs – that demands preservation. But at the same time, they understand that it is possible to create a balance between tradition and modern lifestyle needs.
When building a house, it is important to hire an architect who understands your vision. To do this, asking the right questions – before making a pick – definitely helps to narrow down the list.
Now it’s your turn. Please share your opinions on Pakistan’s architectural trends in the comments section below. We would love to hear from you.
