Pakistani architecture

Pakistani architecture

1. Pakistani Architecture Pakistani Architecture

2. Pakistani architecturePakistani architecture includes various includes various
structures built during different time periods. structures built during different time periods.
With the beginning of the Indus civilization With the beginning of the Indus civilization
around the middle of the 3rd millennium B.C.around the middle of the 3rd millennium B.C.
This was followed by the Gandhara style of This was followed by the Gandhara style of
Buddhist architecture that borrowed elements Buddhist architecture that borrowed elements
from the Ancient Greece. These remnants are from the Ancient Greece. These remnants are
visible in the Gandhara capital of Taxila. visible in the Gandhara capital of Taxila.

3. Indus Valley CivilizationIndus Valley Civilization
Archaeologists excavated Archaeologists excavated
numerous ancient cities, numerous ancient cities,
among them Mohenjo among them Mohenjo
Daro, Harappa and Kot Daro, Harappa and Kot
Diji, which have a Diji, which have a
uniform, appropriate uniform, appropriate
structure with broad structure with broad
roads as well as well roads as well as well
thought out sanitary and thought out sanitary and
drainage facilities. drainage facilities.

4. The majority of the discovered brick The majority of the discovered brick
constructions are public buildings such as bath constructions are public buildings such as bath
houses and workshops. Wood and loam served houses and workshops. Wood and loam served
as construction materials. as construction materials.
Large scale temples, such as those found in Large scale temples, such as those found in
other ancient cities are missing. With the other ancient cities are missing. With the
collapse of the IVC culture the architecture also collapse of the IVC culture the architecture also
suffered considerable damage suffered considerable damage

5. Buddhist & Hindu ArchitectureBuddhist & Hindu Architecture
With the rise of Buddhism outstanding With the rise of Buddhism outstanding
architectural monuments were developed, which architectural monuments were developed, which
have lasted into the present.have lasted into the present.
In addition, the Persian and Greek influence led In addition, the Persian and Greek influence led
to the development of the Greco-Buddhist style, to the development of the Greco-Buddhist style,
starting from the 1st century A.D..starting from the 1st century A.D..
The high point of this era was reached with the The high point of this era was reached with the
culmination of the Gandhara style. culmination of the Gandhara style.

6. Important remnants of Important remnants of
Buddhist construction are Buddhist construction are
stupas and other buildings with stupas and other buildings with
clearly recognizable Greek clearly recognizable Greek
statues and style elements like statues and style elements like
support columns which, beside support columns which, beside
ruins from other epochs, are ruins from other epochs, are
found in the Gandhara capital found in the Gandhara capital
Taxila in the extreme north of Taxila in the extreme north of
the Punjab. the Punjab.
A particularly beautiful example A particularly beautiful example
of Buddhist architecture is the of Buddhist architecture is the
ruins of the Buddhist ruins of the Buddhist
monastery Takht-i-Bahi in the monastery Takht-i-Bahi in the
northwest province. northwest province.

7. Mughal Architecture Mughal Architecture
The arrival of Islam in today's Pakistan - first The arrival of Islam in today's Pakistan - first
in Sindh - during 8th century A.D. meant a in Sindh - during 8th century A.D. meant a
sudden end of Buddhist architecture. sudden end of Buddhist architecture.
However, a smooth transition to However, a smooth transition to
predominantly pictureless Islamic predominantly pictureless Islamic
architecture occurred. architecture occurred.
The way early mosques were built with The way early mosques were built with
decorations oriented them strongly to the decorations oriented them strongly to the
Arab style. The earliest example of a mosque Arab style. The earliest example of a mosque
from the days of infancy of Islam in South from the days of infancy of Islam in South
Asia is the Mihrablose mosque of Banbhore, Asia is the Mihrablose mosque of Banbhore,
from the year 727, the first Muslim place of from the year 727, the first Muslim place of
worship on the Indian Subcontinent. worship on the Indian Subcontinent.
Under the Delhi Sultan the Persian-Under the Delhi Sultan the Persian-
centralasiatic style ascended over Arab centralasiatic style ascended over Arab
influences. Most important characteristic of influences. Most important characteristic of
this style is the Iwan, walled on three sides, this style is the Iwan, walled on three sides,
with one end entirely open. Further with one end entirely open. Further
characteristics are wide prayer halls, round characteristics are wide prayer halls, round
domes with mosaics and geometrical samples domes with mosaics and geometrical samples
and the use of painted tiles. and the use of painted tiles.

8. The most important of the few completely discovered The most important of the few completely discovered
buildings of Persian style is the tomb of the Shah Rukn-buildings of Persian style is the tomb of the Shah Rukn-
i-Alam (built 1320 to 1324) in Multan. i-Alam (built 1320 to 1324) in Multan.

9. British Colonial Architecture British Colonial Architecture
In the British colonial age predominantly In the British colonial age predominantly
representative buildings of the Indo-European representative buildings of the Indo-European
style developed, from a mixture of European style developed, from a mixture of European
and Indian-Islamic components. Amongst the and Indian-Islamic components. Amongst the
more prominent works are Mohatta Palace and more prominent works are Mohatta Palace and
Frere Hall in Karachi. Frere Hall in Karachi.

10. Mohatta Palace, KarachiMohatta Palace, Karachi

11. Frere Hall, KarachiFrere Hall, Karachi

12. Post Independence Architecture Post Independence Architecture
After independence Pakistan strove to express its new After independence Pakistan strove to express its new
found national identity through architecture. This found national identity through architecture. This
reflects itself particularly in modern structures like the reflects itself particularly in modern structures like the
Faisal Mosque in the capital built during the 1960s. Faisal Mosque in the capital built during the 1960s.
In addition, buildings of monumental importance such In addition, buildings of monumental importance such
as the Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore or the mausoleum as the Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore or the mausoleum
established with white marble known as Mazar-e-Quaid established with white marble known as Mazar-e-Quaid
for the founder of the state expressed the self-for the founder of the state expressed the self-
confidence of the nascent state. confidence of the nascent state.
The National Monument in Islamabad is one the latest The National Monument in Islamabad is one the latest
examples of integrating culture, independence and examples of integrating culture, independence and
modern architecture. modern architecture.

13. Faisal MosqueFaisal Mosque

14. Minar-e-PakistanMinar-e-Pakistan

15. Mazar-e-QuaidMazar-e-Quaid

16. Habib Bank Plaza, KarachiHabib Bank Plaza, Karachi