Maryam Zaheer
Thesis Title:
Curating an experience of formal and informal marketplace typologies through permeability
Project Title:
Bazaar
Location:
Gulshan-e- Iqbal Block 7, Main University Road, Karachi.
User Group:
Public
One of the main goals of architects and urban planners in every era is to alter the built environment in order to enhance social life. As a result, spaces vary due to the changing architectural styles that have evolved over time. The bazaars in Karachi are one of the locations that have been altered. Changes in the design, structure and system of the bazaar and other spaces is essential and inevitable as the needs of humans change with the passing time. But since the shopping malls are considered as an alternative for the bazaar, they seem inappropriate as they lack the main essence of the shopping experience that is present in bazaars. This happened because this specific shopping experience was influenced by the West and it lacked the essence of local shopping. Both the typologies have their pros and cons, but what is lacking is the in- between bazaar which provides a good shopping experience architecturally and socially, unlike the already present market typologies.
Maryam Zaheer
Architecture
Thesis Title:
Curating an experience of formal and informal marketplace typologies through permeability
Project Title:
Bazaar
Location:
Gulshan-e- Iqbal Block 7, Main University Road, Karachi.
User Group:
Public
One of the main goals of architects and urban planners in every era is to alter the built environment in order to enhance social life. As a result, spaces vary due to the changing architectural styles that have evolved over time. The bazaars in Karachi are one of the locations that have been altered. Changes in the design, structure and system of the bazaar and other spaces is essential and inevitable as the needs of humans change with the passing time. But since the shopping malls are considered as an alternative for the bazaar, they seem inappropriate as they lack the main essence of the shopping experience that is present in bazaars. This happened because this specific shopping experience was influenced by the West and it lacked the essence of local shopping. Both the typologies have their pros and cons, but what is lacking is the in- between bazaar which provides a good shopping experience architecturally and socially, unlike the already present market typologies.
Entrance to the market (showing the colored scaffolding as zoning for different areas)
Birds eye perspective view of the market entrance with community park in the front
Site is situated in the NorthEast part of Karachi, in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Block 7, Main University Road.
Micro plan of the site
Design Intent (the structure should be semi permanent so that it does not add that much to the already present urban jungle)
Design Strategies
Module for the Informal Bazaar
Module for the Formal Bazaar
Plan
Permanent shops (on the right) ; central plaza (on the left)
Central Plaza for gathering. Encourages introverted (person to person) and extroverted (person to market) interaction.
Seating or breathing space (interaction) between the formal (ground floor) and informal (first floor)
Perspective
Exploded axonometric showing the material and the informal market vs the formal market.
Inspiration sketch
