Yasmeen Lari and her organization, the Heritage Foundation, have had a huge impact on thousands of lives in Pakistan through her approach to disaster relief vernacular architecture that is built by training and equipping the community to construct affordable and sustainable housing. Redefining Architecture
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Despite the fervent efforts by Lari to restore justice to the rural communities in Pakistan, up to 75% of the population still lives in poverty. After years of hard work it would be easy to throw in the towel and call it a day, give up. It is precisely for that very reason that Yasmeen Lari is so unique. Lari gave up a well paying, high success career in corporate architecture to pursue work in preserving the Heritage of Pakistan which eventually led to her work today, helping rural communities build lasting, sustainable, and affordable homes while also training local artisans crafts to help them make a livelihood. I think Lari was getting at something here. I think she saw all aspects of what her life could be and what she could do, from her studies in England to her corporate work in Pakistan, and she chose to keep going even past retirement to make a real difference. Lari did not care about the fame or credit for the work she was doing, she just knew she had to do something to help the people of her country. Today Lari states that "I’m very old now, and people ask me why I still work. I don’t think I could sit back at home, because there is still work to do. I enjoy it. It’s great fun. Shaking the system is particularly exciting." Lari found what I hope to also find in my work, joy and happiness. This is the kind of work I want to pursue in my future, work that is not built around corporate gain, but rather architecture that impacts the lives of those that seem forgotten and neglected, starting in our own country. We have the opportunity to build structures to change the world so why not try to build in a way that will drastically change the outlook on life for others? Is it all worth it? Absolutely. Written by: Elizabeth Van BruggenStudying architecture comes with many challenges, such as daily existential crisis' about the future and the purpose of studying a field that is so driven by the ego and wealth of others. I hope to one day be able to use what I have learned by studying architecture to impact the lives of others through missional architecture whether that be in the United States or overseas. |
Yasmeen LariArchitect, Architectural Historian, Heritage Conservationist, Philanthropist. Posts |