Alhamra Arts Council facts for kids
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| Address | Lahore Pakistan |
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| Coordinates | 31°33′30″N 74°19′44″E / 31.5582766°N 74.3290015°E |
| Type | Arts Council |
| Capacity | 1000-seat auditorium |
| Opened | 1992 |
The Alhamra Arts Council is a famous place in Lahore, Pakistan. It is also known by other names like Alhamra Hall or Lahore Arts Council. A talented architect named Nayyar Ali Dada designed this amazing building. It was finished in 1992.
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Where is Alhamra Arts Council?
The Alhamra Arts Council is located on a historic road in Lahore. This road was once called Mall Road. Now, it is known as Shahrah Quaid-e-Azam. The building is a central spot for arts and culture in the city.
How the Arts Council Started
The idea for the Alhamra Arts Council began with a plan to build a large auditorium. This auditorium would have 1000 seats. It was designed for the Alhamra Arts Council (AAC), a group that Nayyar Ali Dada was part of.
Before this, the AAC often held its shows outdoors. The government gave them the land for the building after Pakistan became independent. The first part, the big auditorium, was completed in 1979. It replaced some older, temporary buildings.
Building More Sections
After the first auditorium, three more parts were added to the complex. The Lahore Arts Council, a government group, took over the project. This happened after a disagreement about who owned the land.
New Buildings Added
The first new section was finished in 1984. It included offices and art galleries. These were built inside four buildings shaped like octagons (eight-sided shapes).
In 1985, a second theatre was added. This one had 450 seats and was shaped like a hexagon (six-sided). Finally, in 1992, a smaller 250-seat hall was completed. This hall was also octagonal and used for talks and music shows.
Smart Design for Sound
The buildings are placed in a special way. They create open areas that are partly closed off, like courtyards. The different shapes of the buildings, like octagons and hexagons, help the sound travel better during performances. This makes sure everyone can hear clearly.
Mughal Style Architecture
The design of the Alhamra Arts Council is inspired by Mughal architecture. This is a beautiful style of building from a long time ago in India and Pakistan. The buildings are made with a layer of handmade red bricks over a concrete frame.
These red bricks are held together with local mortar. They remind people of old, famous buildings in Lahore. For example, the historic Lahore Fort and the Badshahi Mosque also use red bricks. The Mughals often used red sandstone in their grand buildings.
Awards and Recognition
The design of the Alhamra Arts Council won a big award in 1998. It received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture. The judges said it was a great example of a building that could be changed and added to over time. They felt that each new part made the whole building even better.
See also
In Spanish: Consejo de artes Alhamra para niños
