Do you feel Pakistani architects have the
capacity to compete with international
standards in the architecture world?
Absolutely! International standards have certain pre-requisites and certain
being more stringent than others as the west treats architecture as everyone should. It’s a public safety profession, they begin by looking at your
qualification, your exposure in the field and your license to practice. They
also study your ability to adhere to public safety rules.
As far as the aesthetics hold, good work is appreciated any where! So
in that respect yes, Pakistani architecture can compete and we would go
further by saying that we are competing with the world in all of the architecture that we produce. Every country comes with its own set of challenges.
It all comes down to how creatively you address them in creating good
architecture, which counts.
What are some of the most memorable projects/
works that YOC’A has executed in the past?
Some of the most memorable projects that we have worked on would
definitely include designer Sania Maskatiya’s retail outlet in Dolmen Mall.
For Sania’s outlet, we actually designed chairs in which the fabric used was
from Sania’s own collection. The pieces received widespread appreciation
from all patrons. The unveiling of our trousseau collection in March this year
was also were memorable. Apart from this, we did outlet for Crescent by
Bahuman in Lahore and numerous bridal suites for our clients.
Which project, taken up by the three of you
together, would you claim as your favourite?
In terms of furniture, we created a series using sketches of our Father, “Misbah Najmi”, which are beautiful. The first piece, a dewan, has just arrived in
store and it’s really exquisite!
In architecture, we are currently doing the master plan of The IBA campus
and of the seven buildings.
The interior for The Standard Chartered Head Office we are particularly
proud of, as for this project we received the Excellence in Interior Design
award from the Institute of Architects, Pakistan.
What advice would the three of you like to give
someone who wishes to revamp their home?
For those who wish to revamp their home, we would recommend doing
thorough research into trends, so that your designs are up to date. Make a
list of what you need as an individual, or what your family needs are, and
plan accordingly. Do your homework in terms of what designer should
work on your home, professional advice can make a world of difference
when redoing a space. Be cautious with colour, be sure that you do not
over do it!
How have you decorated your homes? What is your
favourite spot or room in your house?
Our homes all have a personal touch to them. I would say my home is elegant and understated with moments of glamour spread throughout. I love
entertaining guests, and our entertainment room has been tailored to that.
Our dining room would be another favourite for hosting dinner parties. I
have a variety of silverware, crystals and personalised monogramed napkins. Another favorite room in the house would be my children’s room, where
we have used furniture from our YOC’A’s Children’s Collection. The rooms
are like mini-adult rooms, with a high-end feel. In many of the rooms in our
home we have created an interaction between the indoor and nature.
There is greenery both outside and inside, and this is something that I love!
You recently designed Outlets for designers
Sania Maskatiya and Nida Azwer, how was the
experience?
These projects were actually completed by Najmi Bilgrami Collaborative
Ltd, which is essentially the same people but a different business. YOC’A
produced the furniture for both of these projects. Both the projects were
great experiences. We gave an International feel to the Sania Maskatiya’s
store, keeping in line with our style of work, it was certainly elegant and
understated. Nida Azwer’s store although smaller but had lots of fun designs incorporated into it. We experimented by embedding 3D prints that
belonged to Nida Azwer into one of the wall while on another wall we did
one of her design laces in concrete.
Apart from Sania and Nida’s outlet, what other
outlets have been designed by YOC’A?
We have done several outlets in Dolmen Mall Karachi. We designed Yellow’s store. For Yellow, we particularly love the brick wall, and the use of
greenery in an indoor setting. Yellow’s outlet is definitely one of our favourites as it projects an industrial look, which is very sleek and clean.
Koel is a restaurant that we designed, we believe that it is the first ever
restaurant that does not have an electronic shutter. To go along with the
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