For the duration of Arshad Abdulla’s life time, Arshad and Shahid Abdulla were an enviable, inseparable duo that created a force in the architecture industry in Pakistan; not because they designed residences and office spaces that reflected innovations imbued with flair; but because they understood a basic theoretical architectural premise –that structures derive their significance from the past as well a address concerns for the future..Those who worked for the firm and those who continue to work at ASA are perceptibly expressive of the notion that there is a larger picture to be seen; socially, morally, environmentally.
This holistic attitude was set into motion by Arshad Abdulla, the elder of the two brothers. ‘He had an honest approach towards his planning’, recalls Shahid Abdulla about Arshad ‘I mean honesty in terms of professionalism. His parameters were very clear. You don’t waste money, you don’t waste space and you must be careful what materials you use. He was unwaveringly conscious about the idea being communicated to future generations through the buildings we constructed. What would students take away from the design, structure and materials they visualized many decades after the building was made.’
‘Arshad spoke about timelessness and the simplicity of structures which come with your choice of materials, your design and planning approach’ Shahid Abdulla ruminates. ‘And he instilled that thought in all of us at ASA. At the beginning of a critique, those were his primary observations. Will these designs and materials stand the test of time? We knew he was right and we corrected our approach if necessary’..If ASA today is much more than another architectural firm; more expansive, more forward thinking, willing to take on radical ideas even if it means being challenge and tested, it is because Arshad Abdulla had the foresight to envision it as such. He knew well enough that though mankind may not have common goals or aspirations or needs, eventually it does have a common future, a collective destination. ASA is immersed in issues as diverse as social and environmental activism and architectural conservation and are leaders in the field of education and health architecture.The Abdulla brothers may have been eager and dedicated but had never run a big firm on their own. It was the first among many challenges that the brothers would face, but they were undaunted and undeterred. Even though in 1978 the firm comprised of a staff of 16 persons under the name of Arshad Shahid Abdulla (ASA), the company today employs over 70 professionals including architects, engineers quantity surveyors and technical production team.
For the duration of Arshad Abdulla’s life time, Arshad and Shahid Abdulla were an enviable, inseparable duo that created a force in the architecture industry in Pakistan; not because they designed residences and office spaces that reflected innovations imbued with flair; but because they understood a basic theoretical architectural premise –that structures derive their significance from the past as well a address concerns for the future. Those who worked for the firm and those who continue to work at ASA are perceptibly expressive of the notion that there is a larger picture to be seen; socially, morally, environmentally.
This holistic attitude was set into motion by Arshad Abdulla, the elder of the two brothers. ‘He had an honest approach towards his planning’, recalls Shahid Abdulla about Arshad ‘I mean honesty in terms of professionalism. His parameters were very clear. You don’t waste money, you don’t waste space and you must be careful what materials you use. He was unwaveringly conscious about the idea being communicated to future generations through the buildings we constructed. What would students take away from the design, structure and materials they visualized many decades after the building was made.’
‘Arshad spoke about timelessness and the simplicity of structures which come with your choice of materials, your design and planning approach’ Shahid Abdulla ruminates. ‘And he instilled that thought in all of us at ASA. At the beginning of a critique, those were his primary observations. Will these designs and materials stand the test of time? We knew he was right and we corrected our approach if necessary’.
If ASA today is much more than another architectural firm; more expansive, more forward thinking, willing to take on radical ideas even if it means being challenge and tested, it is because Arshad Abdulla had the foresight to envision it as such. He knew well enough that though mankind may not have common goals or aspirations or needs, eventually it does have a common future, a collective destination. ASA is immersed in issues as diverse as social and environmental activism and architectural conservation and are leaders in the field of education and health architecture.The Abdulla brothers may have been eager and dedicated but had never run a big firm on their own. It was the first among many challenges that the brothers would face, but they were undaunted and undeterred. Even though in 1978 the firm comprised of a staff of 16 persons under the name of Arshad Shahid Abdulla (ASA), the company today employs over 70 professionals including architects, engineers quantity surveyors and technical production team.
> Firm History
As we trace the history of ASA — its projects and its achievements — we will discover more and more the role that Arshad Abdulla played in the development of the firm and how his words and values are still a driving force behind so much of the vital decision-making process in the firm and the way in which the young architects are shaped in their careers. We will unravel the meaning behind the projects and the ways in which the architects and designers have responded to challenges and the architectural solutions to the problems presented to them, through structure, spatial control, design and materials. In all, what will become lucid will be the awareness, the astuteness, the vision that has guided not only Arshad and Shahid Abdulla themselves but the concept that has permeated to every member of the team who works at ASA.
Without undermining the challenges that both Arshad and Shahid Abdulla faced when they began their practice, it is safe to say, they found their passion as architects as easily as say, saplings in a rain forest.
Pyarali Merali was the most renowned architect in the 1960s in Karachi and had several important clients. The brothers apprenticed at Merali’s firm, walking to his office from Karachi Grammar School where they studied. When it was time for undergraduate studies, they decided to go abroad for an architectural degree. They both chose colleges in the USA, with Arshad Abdulla attending Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and Shahid attending the University of Illinois, Chicago.
It is surprising however, that today Shahid Abdulla has a different view of students going overseas for higher studies “Arshad and I were forced to go abroad because there was no educational institution in Pakistan that could have provided us with a substantial architectural learning. If I had the opportunity today, I would never go abroad. I would study here.” It is almost as if he is discouraging students from seeking higher education in good universities abroad, having gained the prestigious degree himself. But depriving other students is not Shahid Abdulla’s objective. It is fort their welfare that he speaks. He explains. “The students are influenced at a young, receptive age. It is during these years that you think the grass is greener on the other side and you lose the sensitivity of your own environment. Institutions in western countries can’t teach you how to make public bathrooms or garbage bins in our part of the world”.
Both institutions, IIT and UIC that Arshad and Shahid attended have distinct approaches toward pedagogy. The brothers may have had varying perspectives on things but their education sharpened their acuity and heightened their perspicacity, though it did nothing to bridge the gap in their divergent viewpoints. Their differences in their perception or interpretation continued to be visible in their interaction through the years but was no obstacle to the strengthening of the unifying articulation of their company’s vision or their integrity as professionals. Their views coalesced seamlessly in the holistic picture of the larger goal that they had set for themselves.
As we trace the history of ASA — its projects and its achievements — we will discover more and more the role that Arshad Abdulla played in the development of the firm and how his words and values are still a driving force behind so much of the vital decision-making process in the firm and the way in which the young architects are shaped in their careers. We will unravel the meaning behind the projects and the ways in which the architects and designers have responded to challenges and the architectural solutions to the problems presented to them, through structure, spatial control, design and materials. In all, what will become lucid will be the awareness, the astuteness, the vision that has guided not only Arshad and Shahid Abdulla themselves but the concept that has permeated to every member of the team who works at ASA.
Without undermining the challenges that both Arshad and Shahid Abdulla faced when they began their practice, it is safe to say, they found their passion as architects as easily as say, saplings in a rain forest.
Pyarali Merali was the most renowned architect in the 1960s in Karachi and had several important clients. The brothers apprenticed at Merali’s firm, walking to his office from Karachi Grammar School where they studied. When it was time for undergraduate studies, they decided to go abroad for an architectural degree. They both chose colleges in the USA, with Arshad Abdulla attending Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and Shahid attending the University of Illinois, Chicago.
It is surprising however, that today Shahid Abdulla has a different view of students going overseas for higher studies “Arshad and I were forced to go abroad because there was no educational institution in Pakistan that could have provided us with a substantial architectural learning. If I had the opportunity today, I would never go abroad. I would study here.” It is almost as if he is discouraging students from seeking higher education in good universities abroad, having gained the prestigious degree himself. But depriving other students is not Shahid Abdulla’s objective. It is fort their welfare that he speaks. He explains. “The students are influenced at a young, receptive age. It is during these years that you think the grass is greener on the other side and you lose the sensitivity of your own environment. Institutions in western countries can’t teach you how to make public bathrooms or garbage bins in our part of the world”.
Both institutions, IIT and UIC that Arshad and Shahid attended have distinct approaches toward pedagogy. The brothers may have had varying perspectives on things but their education sharpened their acuity and heightened their perspicacity, though it did nothing to bridge the gap in their divergent viewpoints. Their differences in their perception or interpretation continued to be visible in their interaction through the years but was no obstacle to the strengthening of the unifying articulation of their company’s vision or their integrity as professionals. Their views coalesced seamlessly in the holistic picture of the larger goal that they had set for themselves.
ASA exemplifies ‘Unity in diversity‘
> Key Personnel
Shaista Khaliq
Chief Operating Officer
Architectural design was the road I took, but Operations and Management of an Architectural Firm was my destinationHaving done my Bachelor of Architecture from Indus Valley School of Art & Architecture in 1997, I joined ASA for an 8-year stint as an Architect/Project Manager.
Thereafter, I was appointed the Chief Operating Officer due to my grasp of management aspects of processing projects. The added responsibilities of the COO position involved me into Business Operations, Finance, Public Relations, Contract Administration, Office Administration and Human Resource
Farrukh Mazhar Khan
Director, Architecture
After having left Pakistan at a grade-school age, I did my High School at The American School and Bachelors at The University of the Philippines. After only a few years of work after graduation, I realized that I needed to get back to my country and contribute. Amongst the many offers and opportunities, ASA jumped clearly above the rest as the firm I wanted to be a part of, largely due to being deeply impressed by the personalities of its Principal brothers Arshad and Shahid Abdulla.
From that fateful first day to today, I now carry over 32 years of experience. I have had my share of diverse and challenging projects, big and small, as I continue to be productive and deeply involved in the capacity of a Design Director of the Architecture Department.
Muhammad Ayub Ghafoor
Head, Residences
I began my career 34 years ago with ASA. Arshad and Shahid Abdulla have been my mentors ever since, to this day my work and conduct is a reflection of their training. I started in the Architecture Department working on various projects such as Textile Institute of Pakistan, The Oasis Golf and Aqua Resort, The Kidney Center, The Dolmen Mall, MCB Head Office, Tabba Heart Institute and many others. I now head the Residence Department.
Each residential project has been a test of my knowledge of materials and details, as well as being a source of growth and inner satisfaction. Clients invest a lot of time, money and emotions into building their dream homes, which motivates me to invest even more in turning their dreams into reality.
Aasia Hussain
Director, Interior Design
Soon after my training in the US, I joined ASA in 1985. It was a privilege to have been trained by both Arshad and Shahid during these professionally formative years. Learning to balance practicality and flair under their expert guidance has been an irreplaceable fortune. My subsequent 14 years were spent overseas; between Riyadh, Moscow and Dubai. As a family we returned to Pakistan in 2009 and I rejoined the Interior Design department at ASA.
It was an exciting time at the firm. It had grown tremendously, with projects varying in scale and complexity. There were many more designers and professional involved than when I had left. There was more to do. At the same time, there was more to learn.
Subia Sultan Wyne
Director, Architecture
Architecture design has to be creative as well as authentic. It’s about the experience of living spaces that has to be kept in mind when designing a building. “It was early in my career in 2002 when I joined ASA after finishing my degree in Architecture from Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture and to my incredulity, Shahid and Arshad Abdulla threw me into the deep end the
day I joined by handing me the group of houses being built for their family” says Subia. Despite being terrified by the responsibility of the task at hand she was excited to be given an opportunity to work with both the brothers in the early years which gave her an advantage and an insight;
“I became familiar with both their ways of working and their strengths; Arshad Abdulla was a master in architecture and planning and structure and he taught me to ask the right questions. Shahid Abdulla on the other hand was meticulous in his detailing and his interior innovations were exciting to witness.”
In 2008 Subia decided to take some time away from the firm to teach interior design at her alma mater. It was during this time that she was able to hone her management and mentoring skills, both skills that would be key to the projects she would undertake once she returned to ASA in 2012. It was then that she was given an opportunity to work on a 60-storey sky-scraper. It was a mammoth undertaking and the foundations had already been laid so she had to hit the ground running. “It took ten days of just making notes for me to come up to speed. It was a great opportunity for me to study new technologies and theories of organization and methods of construction, façade systems, MEP systems, materials etc. the coordination of architecture design with all the systems that are required for such a tall building. It was very exciting but intense. I had to research, ask questions, come up with answers, evaluate pros and cons and take decisions.”
Bisma Askari
Head, Interior Design
Soon after my training in the US, I joined ASA in 1985. It was a privilege to have been trained by both Arshad and Shahid during these professionally formative years. Learning to balance practicality and flair under their expert guidance has been an irreplaceable fortune. My subsequent 14 years were spent overseas; between Riyadh, Moscow and Dubai. As a family we returned to Pakistan in 2009 and I rejoined the Interior Design department at ASA.
It was an exciting time at the firm. It had grown tremendously, with projects varying in scale and complexity. There were many more designers and professional involved than when I had left. There was more to do. At the same time, there was more to learn.
Shaista Khaliq
Chief Operating Officer
Architectural design was the road I took, but Operations and Management of an Architectural Firm was my destinationHaving done my Bachelor of Architecture from Indus Valley School of Art & Architecture in 1997, I joined ASA for an 8-year stint as an Architect/Project Manager.
Thereafter, I was appointed the Chief Operating Officer due to my grasp of management aspects of processing projects. The added responsibilities of the COO position involved me into Business Operations, Finance, Public Relations, Contract Administration, Office Administration and Human Resource
Farrukh Mazhar Khan
Director, Architecture
After having left Pakistan at a grade-school age, I did my High School at The American School and Bachelors at The University of the Philippines. After only a few years of work after graduation, I realized that I needed to get back to my country and contribute. Amongst the many offers and opportunities, ASA jumped clearly above the rest as the firm I wanted to be a part of, largely due to being deeply impressed by the personalities of its Principal brothers Arshad and Shahid Abdulla.
From that fateful first day to today, I now carry over 32 years of experience. I have had my share of diverse and challenging projects, big and small, as I continue to be productive and deeply involved in the capacity of a Design Director of the Architecture Department.
Muhammad Ayub Ghafoor
Head, Residences
I began my career 34 years ago with ASA. Arshad and Shahid Abdulla have been my mentors ever since, to this day my work and conduct is a reflection of their training. I started in the Architecture Department working on various projects such as Textile Institute of Pakistan, The Oasis Golf and Aqua Resort, The Kidney Center, The Dolmen Mall, MCB Head Office, Tabba Heart Institute and many others. I now head the Residence Department.
Each residential project has been a test of my knowledge of materials and details, as well as being a source of growth and inner satisfaction. Clients invest a lot of time, money and emotions into building their dream homes, which motivates me to invest even more in turning their dreams into reality.
Aasia Hussain
Director, Interior Design
Soon after my training in the US, I joined ASA in 1985. It was a privilege to have been trained by both Arshad and Shahid during these professionally formative years. Learning to balance practicality and flair under their expert guidance has been an irreplaceable fortune. My subsequent 14 years were spent overseas; between Riyadh, Moscow and Dubai. As a family we returned to Pakistan in 2009 and I rejoined the Interior Design department at ASA
It was an exciting time at the firm. It had grown tremendously, with projects varying in scale and complexity. There were many more designers and professional involved than when I had left. There was more to do. At the same time, there was more to learn.
Subia Sultan Wyne
Director, Architecture
Architecture design has to be creative as well as authentic. It’s about the experience of living spaces that has to be kept in mind when designing a building. “It was early in my career in 2002 when I joined ASA after finishing my degree in Architecture from Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture and to my incredulity, Shahid and Arshad Abdulla threw me into the deep end the
day I joined by handing me the group of houses being built for their family” says Subia. Despite being terrified by the responsibility of the task at hand she was excited to be given an opportunity to work with both the brothers in the early years which gave her an advantage and an insight;
“I became familiar with both their ways of working and their strengths; Arshad Abdulla was a master in architecture and planning and structure and he taught me to ask the right questions. Shahid Abdulla on the other hand was meticulous in his detailing and his interior innovations were exciting to witness.”
In 2008 Subia decided to take some time away from the firm to teach interior design at her alma mater. It was during this time that she was able to hone her management and mentoring skills, both skills that would be key to the projects she would undertake once she returned to ASA in 2012. It was then that she was given an opportunity to work on a 60-storey sky-scraper. It was a mammoth undertaking and the foundations had already been laid so she had to hit the ground running. “It took ten days of just making notes for me to come up to speed. It was a great opportunity for me to study new technologies and theories of organization and methods of construction, façade systems, MEP systems, materials etc. the coordination of architecture design with all the systems that are required for such a tall building. It was very exciting but intense. I had to research, ask questions, come up with answers, evaluate pros and cons and take decisions.”
Bisma Askari
Head, Interior Design
Soon after my training in the US, I joined ASA in 1985. It was a privilege to have been trained by both Arshad and Shahid during these professionally formative years. Learning to balance practicality and flair under their expert guidance has been an irreplaceable fortune. My subsequent 14 years were spent overseas; between Riyadh, Moscow and Dubai. As a family we returned to Pakistan in 2009 and I rejoined the Interior Design department at ASA.
It was an exciting time at the firm. It had grown tremendously, with projects varying in scale and complexity. There were many more designers and professional involved than when I had left. There was more to do. At the same time, there was more to learn.
