Its historic Walled City holds a diverse mix of architectural styles within its ramparts, and now, this Modernist home in Lahore ups the ante with its progressive, nature-first design.
In Lahore, the second largest city in Pakistan, the past and the present are intertwined. Majestic forts from the Mughal era, glamorous havelis of the courtesans of yore and grand mansions from the days of the British Raj stand beside glass–and–concrete buildings that hold the promise of a bright future. From cuisine and craft, to fashion and art, the Lahoris have found unique ways of assimilating their heritage into the everyday, and the city has evolved into a hub for culture and commerce. Their homes, too, speak of this balancing act, where tradition (many still live in multi-generational households) and modernity are shaping a new design language.
“We believe that there is an opportunity to develop a contemporary Pakistani architectural vocabulary that responds to our evolving values,” say designers Fatima Salahuddin and Tobi Adamolekun, who collaborate under the moniker Omi-Pani. “It’s a privilege to create and build in a grand city like Lahore where we can reference our heritage in a deeply personal manner, and hopefully, add to the city’s extraordinary architectural lineage.” Their latest project, a sleek, single-storey bungalow that was inspired by Lahore’s historic garden pavilions is testament to their ambition.
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Nestled in the old Walled City, along a street lined with frangipani and silver palm trees, the house reveals itself with a Frank Lloyd Wright-esque porch, its proportions and material palette – local bricks, terracotta and wood – paying homage to a wave of Modernist architecture that swept through the subcontinent in its post-colonial bid to assert sovereignty. “The bricks served as a cultural bridge from the city to the house,” say the designers about why they chose a building material that’s associated with Lahore’s old landmarks to make the vital first impressions. “We’ve used this ancient material in a contemporary way to punctuate the entrance and integrate the building within its immediate landscape as well as the wider context of the region.”
Pass through the threshold and your eye is instantly drawn outside, to a 40-feet-tall Fiddle Fig tree: It existed on site, exactly at the same location as it stands now, and the designers fell in love with it upon their first fact-finding visit. “We knew right then, that it would be the focal point of the house,” they recall, “and it became our North Star for the inside-outside concept of the design.”
As a result, this house unfolds as a series of spaces punctuated with outdoor areas and curved glass walls that bring the garden in. As the client wanted a space they could live in long-term, without the need for stairs, the solution – a large, single-level built mass – was cleverly broken up with punctures in the exterior geometry that offset the bulk by seamlessly letting nature weave through it: whether through windows and narrow slits in the walls or light cascading down through skylights.
“Rather than simply acting as a physical divide, architectural elements such as large-span, floor-to-ceiling windows, assume an active role, contributing to the desired relationship between the house and the landscape,” explain the duo.
A concrete canopy runs around the building, creating a shaded buffer between the glass walls and a landscaped court. It is here that Omi-Pani’s deft hand at combining Lahore’s architectural legacy – the courtyard references Mughal planning principles, and the cantilever shade is an abstraction of the colonnades that lined British-era buildings – with a creative vision that’s firmly rooted in the now, comes to light.
“The clients were very clear that they didn’t want a showhome to impress visitors and guests,” say the designers. “They were after a home that reflected who they are as a family and could enable them to live in a way that was true to their beliefs and values.” By locating the prayer room at the heart of the home, and from the inside turning it to face the The Kabba in Mecca such that it reflects in the exterior profile of the architecture, the designers incorporated their client’s faith in a way that offers both privacy and a connection with the outside world.
This modernist home in Lahore gets its name, Bahao, from the Urdu word for movement, embodied in its spatial layout as a carefully designed flow of functions, brought together with modern, nature-inspired finishes. Steering clear of colloquial references, the designers distilled Pakistan’s rich design culture through materials and generational know-how. “As the design process unfolded, a recurring theme of celebrating local materials and craftsmanship began to emerge,” they say. “Paying homage to Lahore's legacy as a city of craftspeople, we looked to traditional materials such as bassam marble, sheesham (Indian Rosewood), Afghani onyx, high-density bamboo and copper, to create a refined and textural palette that will evolve with age.”
From the entrance foyer, where shades of wood – from blonde to mocha – lend quiet refinement, to the dining room with an organic-shaped marble dining table that echoes the forms of the vegetation in the overlooking Xeriscaped courtyard, nature has been brought indoors in myriad ways. Gently curved walls that add depth and intrigue to the living room are complemented with bespoke rugs developed in collaboration with local weavers; the natural undyed yarns and thick double knots carrying forth the design intent.
The furniture, most of which was designed by Omi-Pani and handcrafted in Lahore by Zamana, a local atelier, is an extension of the duo's mission to give back to their creative community. The tiered wooden coffee table in the living room contrasts with sculptural metal side tables and consoles decorated in delicate inlay serve as a reminder of a time gone by. This expertly curated blend of contemporary and traditional techniques grounds the space and also gives it a sense of history.
“We hope this house speaks of a new generation of design in Pakistan, one that while remaining rooted in our heritage, looks to the future,” say the designers. omi-pani.com
