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's also known as the Alhamra Hall or Lahore Arts Council. A famous architect named Nayyar Ali Dada designed it. The main parts of the building were finished in 1992. It's a special spot for art and culture.
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A Place for Art in Lahore
The Alhamra Arts Council is in Lahore, Pakistan. It sits on a historic road. This road was once called Mall Road. Now it is known as Shahrah Quaid-e-Azam.
How it Started
The idea for the arts complex began with a plan. Architect Nayyar Ali Dada was asked to design a large hall. This hall would have 1000 seats. It was for the Alhamra Arts Council (AAC). Mr. Dada was a member of this group.
The government gave the land to the AAC. This happened soon after Pakistan became independent. Before the building, performances were often held outside. The first big hall was finished in 1979. It replaced some temporary buildings.
Growing Bigger
After the first hall, three more building stages followed. The Lahore Arts Council took over the project. This was a government group. They continued working with Nayyar Ali Dada.
The first new part was finished in 1984. It included offices and art galleries. These were built inside four unique octagonal (eight-sided) buildings.
In 1985, a new theatre was added. It had 450 seats and was shaped like a hexagon (six-sided). Finally, in 1992, another octagonal building was completed. This one had 250 seats. It is used for talks and music shows.
The buildings are placed carefully. They create nice, partly enclosed courtyards. The different shapes of the buildings help make the sound better for performances.
Amazing Design
The buildings at Alhamra Arts Council look very special. Their design is inspired by Mughal architecture. This is a style from an old empire in South Asia.
The buildings are made with a layer of handmade red bricks. These bricks cover a concrete structure. The bricks are held together with local mortar. This style reminds people of old buildings in Lahore. For example, the historic Lahore Fort and Badshahi Mosque use similar red bricks. The Mughals often used red sandstone in their buildings too.
Award-Winning Architecture
The design of the Alhamra Arts Council won a big award. It received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 1998. The judges praised its design. They said it was a rare example of flexible spaces. This means new parts could be added over time. Each new addition made the whole place even better. It did not take away from its beauty or value.
See also
In Spanish: Consejo de artes Alhamra para niños
