Lahore, March 21, 2022 (PPI-OT): A team of female students from Department of Architecture, bagged the first position in an international competition on women empowerment, which was held recently for highlighting the importance of gender equality, heritage, and the environment. The event was organized by the Heritage Foundation and the International Network for Traditional Building, Architecture, and Urbanism (INTBAU).
More than nine universities from all over Pakistan participated in the competition, while only three teams, including the University of Lahore, the National University of Engineering and Technology, and Dawood University of Engineering and Technology Karachi, managed to complete the challenge. The competition was about the on-site construction of Lari Octa-Green (LOG) Zero-Carbon materials and techniques that had a low carbon footprint, like bamboo and lime.
The UOL team consisted of 11 female students of Architecture, who took the initiative of designing and constructing the structure in the premises of the university, under the supervision of Ms. Zain Zulfiqar (Assistant Professor), Ms. Komal Fatima (Assistant Professor) and Mr. Syed Zehgham Ali Zaidi (Lecturer).
The competition was adjudicated by Ms. Yasmeen Lari (first female Architect of Pakistan), who herself was known as a beacon of women’s empowerment and had been working to build “earthquake and flood resilient structures” using zero-carbon techniques. The activities were overseen by Mr. Naheem Shah (Coordinator Heritage Foundation) and Mr. Ashfaq Ahmed (Coordinator Heritage Foundation) along with Ms. Lari.
The UOL team managed to build the structure from scratch, including the making of mud-lime bricks, the excavation and construction of the foundation, the cutting of bamboo, and the assembly of pre-fab panels. It was the only team which completed the structure within the given timeline and grabbed first position in the competition.
Later, the organizers arranged a certificate distribution ceremony in Karachi to appreciate the efforts of the students. Ms. Maryam Naveed (Finale Year Student) and Ms. Khadija Sarfraz (Fourth Year Student) along with Mr. Zeeshan Asim (HoD, Architecture Department) represented UOL at this event. The students were awarded with the certificates and the importance of this project in promoting women empowerment was highlighted. Later, Mr. Asim gave an acceptance speech on behalf of the UOL and its faculty.
With the aim of highlighting the hard work, sustainability in professional practice and enlightenment on the subject of Women’s empowerment, the Department of Architecture hosted an event in the honour of the winning team held on January 14, 2022 at Defence Road Campus.
Mrs. Shahnaz Raoof (Chairperson, Chaoon Foundation), Mr. Nasir Mehmood (Pro-Rector Academics), and Mrs. Farah Mahmood (Director, UOL Relief) were invited as chief guests. Members of the winning team made a presentation on sustainable development and also explained the process of how they built the log structure. Mr. Zeeshan Asim (HoD Architecture) encouraged the students to take part in such competitions in future and congratulated the winning participants.
After winning the competition nationwide, the UOL will be sponsoring 11 participants and 4 faculty members to the UK, where they will be engaged in a similar activity scheduled at Granary Square from March 21-25, 2022. The program will include, building the log in London Square in collaboration with Bangladeshi and UK students, on 23rd March at London Square. The log will be dismantled on March 25, 2022 at London Square which will be transported to Prince Charles’ residence at High grove.
For more information, contact:
The University of Lahore
1 – KM Defence Road, Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-111-865-865, +92-42-35322501 +92-42-35321761
Email: info@uol.edu.pk
Website: www.uol.edu.pk