Yasmeen Lari facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Yasmeen Lari
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| یاسمین لاری | |
Lari speaks to BBC News (2020) in front of some of her houses.
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| Born | c.1941 (age 83–84) Dera Ghazi Khan, Punjab Province, British India
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| Alma mater | School of Architecture, Oxford Brookes University |
| Organization | Lari Associates |
| Spouse(s) | Suhail Zaheer Lari |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent(s) |
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| Relatives | Nasreen Jalil (sister) |
Yasmeen Lari (Urdu: یاسمین لاری; born around 1941) is a famous architect from Pakistan. She was the first woman in Pakistan to become an architect. She is well-known for using architecture to help people and make society fairer. This is called "social justice" in architecture.
After she stopped working as a regular architect in 2000, she started an organization called Heritage Foundation Pakistan. This group helps people in need and works to save old buildings and places in villages across Pakistan. Yasmeen Lari has won important awards, like the Fukuoka Prize in 2016 and the Royal Gold Medal from RIBA in 2023.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Yasmeen Lari was born in 1941 in a town called Dera Ghazi Khan. She grew up in and around Lahore, Pakistan. Her father, Zafarul Ahsan, worked on big building projects. This helped Yasmeen become interested in architecture from a young age. Her sister, Nasreen Jalil, is a politician in Pakistan.
When Yasmeen was 15, she moved to London with her family. She first studied art for two years. Later, she was accepted into the School of Architecture, Oxford Brookes University. She graduated from there in 1964.
Her Career as an Architect
Designing Buildings (1964–2000)
After finishing her studies, Yasmeen Lari returned to Pakistan in 1964. She was 23 years old. She opened her own architecture company, Lari Associates, in Karachi. This made her Pakistan's first female architect. At first, some workers on building sites did not respect her because she was a woman. But she proved her skills and knowledge.
In 1969, she became a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).
Over the years, she designed many important buildings. These included homes like the Angoori Bagh Housing (1978). She also designed large commercial buildings. Some examples are the Taj Mahal Hotel in Karachi (1981) and the Finance and Trade Center (1989). She also designed the Pakistan State Oil House (1991).
Yasmeen Lari stopped her regular architecture work in 2000. However, she continued to work on saving historical places. She advises on UNESCO projects. She is also the leader of the Heritage Foundation Pakistan.
Helping Communities
In 1980, Yasmeen Lari and her husband started the Heritage Foundation of Pakistan. This group helps people in need. Since 2010, she has helped build about 50,000 homes for people. These homes were for families who lost theirs in earthquakes or floods.
Lari uses old building methods and local materials. For example, after floods in the Sind Valley in 2013 and 2023, she helped build simple, low-cost homes. These homes were made from bamboo and mud.
In 2018, Lari designed a special stove called a "chulah." This stove uses less fuel and is safer. It does not let out harmful smoke into homes. Her stove design won a World Habitat award that same year.
Yasmeen Lari also helped start the Pakistani part of the International Network for Traditional Building, Architecture & Urbanism. She is currently its chairwoman.
What She Believes In
Yasmeen Lari believes that architecture should help all people. She focuses on using design to create a fairer society. She thinks buildings should fit the lives of the people who use them. She also believes in using local materials and respecting nature.
Important Buildings and Projects
Buildings She Designed
| Date | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Angoori Bagh Housing | Lahore, Pakistan | Pakistan's first public housing plan. |
| 1981 | Taj Mahal Hotel, Karachi | Karachi, Pakistan | |
| 1989 | Finance and Trade Center (FTC Building) | Karachi, Pakistan | |
| 1991 | Pakistan State Oil House (PSO House) | Karachi, Pakistan | |
| 2011 | Women's Centre | Darya Khan, Pakistan |
Saving Old Buildings
Yasmeen Lari has also worked on many projects to save and restore historical places. Some of these include:
- Khairpur Heritage Centre
- Sethi house in Sethi Mohallah (2010–2012)
Awards and Honors
Yasmeen Lari has received many awards for her work:
- In 2002, her Heritage Foundation received a U.N. Recognition Award. This was for their work in saving cultural and historical sites.
- In 2006, she received the Sitara-e-Imtiaz. This is one of the highest awards given by the Government of Pakistan. It recognized her work in architecture and saving heritage.
- In 2011, she won the "1st Wonder Women of the Year Award" in Pakistan.
- In 2016, she received the Fukuoka Prize for Arts & Culture.
- She was awarded the Jane Drew Prize in 2020. This award celebrates women in architecture and design.
- In 2021, she received an honorary degree in Architecture from Politecnico di Milano.
- In 2022, she became a professor at the University of Cambridge. She was named The Sir Arthur Marshall Professor of Sustainable Design.
- In May 2023, she received an honorary doctorate from Oxford Brookes University. This is where she studied architecture.
- On April 27, 2023, the RIBA announced she would receive the 2023 Royal Gold Medal. This is a very high honor in architecture.
When she heard about the Royal Gold Medal, Yasmeen Lari said she was surprised and happy. She felt it showed that architects should help everyone, especially those who are often forgotten. She believes architects can help with climate change and fairness in the world.
Personal Life
Yasmeen Lari lives in Karachi, Pakistan. She was married to Suhail Zaheer Lari. He passed away in 2020 due to COVID-19. They had three children.
See also
In Spanish: Yasmeen Lari para niños
- Nader Khalili, another architect known for helping communities.
