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    Remembering Habib Fida Ali

    Written by: Uzma Nawaz
    Posted on: January 09, 2017 | | 中文

    Habib Fida Ali

    “Friendship and humility came before fame and fortune for this iconic personality – a gentle and loving man with immense aesthetic sense, a great love of art, and talent beyond measure as an architect. (It is) a huge loss for all who knew him or admired him and his work.”

    Habib Fida Ali – a name synonymous with modesty, simplicity and excellence – is no more with us. Following his demise on January 7, 2017, countless friends have recounted his achievements, his commendable work in the field of architecture, and his remarkable building designs. However, what is being remembered most is his innate kindness, and how he always went out of his way to give advice to others and lend a hand when needed.

    Born in Karachi in 1935, Fida Ali had his early education at St. Partick’s Primary School before moving on to Aitchison College in Lahore for his O and A levels. His art teacher at Aitchison saw immense potential in him, and advised him to pursue architecture as a career. In the early ‘50s, architecture was considered a most unusual profession, especially in Fida Ali’s family, as he belonged to the Dawoodi Bohra business community of Karachi. However, he did not disregard his innate talent, and joined The Architectural Association, a prestigious and exclusive college in London in 1956. He learned a great deal about the visions and philosophies of famous architects, and was influenced by a diverse set of professionals in the field, including Robert Venturi from the US, Luis Barragan from Mexico, and Geoffrey Bawa from Sri Lanka. He returned to Karachi in 1963 and joined William Perry’s architectural practice, before starting his own work in 1965.

    Architect Habib Fida Ali

    The LUMS campus, designed by Habib Fida Ali

    Fida Ali has left a large legacy behind him. Numerous home designs, as well as various prominent structures in the country, such as the National Bank of Pakistan, The Forum in Karachi, CAS School, Faysal Bank Head Office Karachi, and the Lahore University of Management Sciences are just a few feathers in his cap. These structures exemplify his innovative approach towards designing structures.

    Other projects that are a testament to his superb talent include Allied Bank Building, the EFU Life Head Office in Karachi, the NJI Building, UBL Circle Office, Islamic Chamber of Commerce, and last but not least, the iconic Shell House, one of his earliest and most acclaimed works. Completed in 1976, this structure was a trendsetter in Karachi, as it was finished without the addition of paint. Renowned as the first concrete building in Pakistan, it also won a gold medal from the Karachi Development Authority.  

    Architect Habib Fida Ali

    The iconic Shell House in Karachi

    Fida Ali’s designs had one thing in common: they were all driven by the need for practicality. He has to his credit the designs for residences of several entrepreneurs and businessmen that were minimalist, practical, and visually appealing. His own residence, an old colonial house restored with a brilliant modern touch, speaks volumes about his contribution to the preservation of old architecture. Equally impressive is his restoration work on the famous Mohatta Palace, where he took many toiling months to unleash the true beauty of the historic structure.

    Architect Habib Fida Ali

    Restoration of Mohatta Palace

    Fida Ali never settled for less than the best, and only pursued projects that he knew he could excel in. He would spend weeks trying to gauge the exact needs of his clients and translating them into pragmatic designs for their houses and offices. On one occasion, he actually lived with his client for an entire month before designing their house.

    The 76-year-old Fida Ali never succumbed to the pressures of modernity, and continued to live in his old house towards the end of his life. Despite technological advancements, he held onto his time-tested approach of hand-sketching his designs. He would often take inspiration from historic architectural gems and amalgamate modern elements into them.

    Fida Ali was not just a gifted architect, but also a symbol of humility. Despite being considered the master of his trade, he never shunned any advice and never thought himself to be a supreme authority. He would often travel the world in search of new ideas that would improve his work. His neighbour recalls how he would stand at his gate for long periods of time and suggest ways to improve the landscape design, and how he was always there to help out when needed.

    Referred to as a “giant architect”, an “icon”, a “modernist” and a “mentor” on various occasions by his peers, Fida Ali served as a Master Jury for the Aga Khan Award for Architecture and also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Institute of Architects, Pakistan.

    Over the last five decades, Habib Fida Ali has stood out as one of Pakistan’s most distinguished architects in the modernist tradition. He will be remembered as a visionary, a man of fine taste, and above all, a wonderful human being.

    Architect Habib Fida Ali

    The Habib Fida Ali residence

    Architect Habib Fida Ali
     
    Architect Habib Fida Ali
     

    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021