Saving humanity and saving the planet: low tech, low impact architecture for the other 99 per cent
Join RIBA International for a talk by Yasmeen Lari, held in celebration of the RIBA's Women in Architecture programme and the 20th anniversary of the Oxford Human Rights Festival 2022 which Lari will launch as an Oxford Brookes Alumna. The talk is supported by Oxford Brookes University and IStrucE.
The event will take place in the Jarvis Hall at the RIBA, and will be livestreamed on Teams. Registration is essential for both the in-person talk and online livestream.
Agenda
6.00pm Doors open - cash bar available in lobby
6.30pm Guests invited to move into Jarvis Hall
6.45pm Introduction - Geoff Rich, Managing Partner Feilden Clegg Bradley
6.55pm Saving humanity, saving the planet: low tech, low impact architecture for the other 99 percent - Yasmeen Lari
7.30pm Q&A session with in-person and online guests - chaired by Geoff Rich
7.50pm Thanks and closing remarks - Geoff Rich
8.00pm Networking - cash bar available in the foyer
About the speaker
Yasmeen Lari, the first female architect in Pakistan, is one of the best-known architects in the country, as well as an architectural historian, heritage and environmental conservationist, humanitarian worker and philanthropist. She graduated from Oxford Brookes University and was elected to the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1969. She served as President of the Institute of Architects Pakistan (1980-1983) and as the first chairperson of the regulatory Pakistan Council of Architects and Town Planners (1983-1986).
After building several landmark buildings and social housing, and the largest urban redevelopment project in Asia at the time, she retired from architectural practice in 2000. As CEO and co-founder of Heritage Foundation of Pakistan since 1980, she has helped conserve several historic monuments in World Heritage Sites and landmark buildings in various cities. She has served as UNESCO National Advisor and was included among 60 women who have made significant contributions towards UNESCO’s objectives.
Since the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan, Lari has developed a number of methodologies for low cost, affordable housing that is climate resilient and provides social and ecological justice to those at the bottom of the pyramid (BOP). By building over 40,000 one room houses in disaster-affected areas, she helped create the largest zero carbon shelter programme in the world.
Lari is the recipient of many national and international awards including Sitara-i-Imtiaz (2006) and Hilal-e-Imtiaz (2014) conferred by the President of Pakistan; the Asia-focused Fukuoka Prize for Asian Arts and Culture (2016) in Japan; and the international Jane Drew Prize (2020) in London. She has also received the UNESCO Recognition Award (2002), Islamic Development Bank Prize for Women’s Empowerment (2013), and World Habitat Award (2018). Addressed as “Architect for the Poorest of the Poor”, when conferred an honorary degree Laurea Magistrale ad honourem (2021) by the prestigious Politecnico di Milano in Italy, Lari became the first woman recipient in 158 years.
She has authored and co-authored several books and publications including The Dual City (1996), and Traditional Architecture of Thatta (1989), among others. She has lectured widely in universities and architectural institutions in Asia, Europe, Australia and America. Her architectural works have been exhibited in various countries around the world including the Chicago Architecture Biennial, Chicago (2015), the Vienna Biennale, Vienna (2019) and the Museum of Modern Art, New York (2022).
