An Experience of Urban Transformation in Multan-Pakistani Punjab
185
In relation to these preliminary objectives, the physical working phase has quite
been totally completed, except for the Sarafa Bazaar, for which the working documents have been finalized and the construction site is expected to be opened in few
months.
The first project component is the Haram Gate area, one of the most important
gateways to the Walled City. Today the precinct is a place of traffic and a starting
point of an important tourist route that leads to inner part of the Walled City. The
west side of the place, towards Alang Road, has been subject to recent demolitions of
a part of the urban texture built on the original site of the ancient city walls. Together
with the Gate conservation project, there was the need to act with a plan for the
entire reorganization of the place. The Haram Gate Place project, in fact, is strictly
connected with the Haram Gate conservation project, with the aim to create a real
urban place, in opposition to the current traffic and parking place, as a communitarian
site located at the entrance of the Walled City. For this purpose, the project shaped
a new sequence of spaces around the Haram Gate: the entire area—between the
Circular road and the Gate—has been paved with bricks, a new lighting system has
been settled, trees have been planted along the side of the place facing Circular Road,
and a new pavilion has been built, on the site of several ruined buildings, to create a
sort elevated terrace, covered by a steel and wooden structure, where the inhabitants
as well as the tourist, could enjoy a protected space.
The small pavilion refers to the typical elements of the architectural tradition of
the great royal gardens: the diwan was in fact a resting place in the shade set within
a composition of geometries and perspectives.
Compared to the first phase of the project, the pavilion underwent some substantial
changes regarding its shape and the materials. In fact, related to the architectural
characteristics of the building and the role it plays in the reorganization of the square,
its proportions have been revised. It has in fact opted for a plan based on a 3:5 ratio
clearly expressed thanks to the adopted structural step. The same ratio was maintained
between the short side and the height of the building. The design of the flooring and
the choice of materials remained almost unchanged compared to the first proposals.
The paving of the square is continuous and made with a brick already used for the
inner street inside the Walled City. The edge surface of the pavilion stylobate is made
within local white granite with pinkish veins about 30 cm wide.
The development of the project has also led to the revision of some initial choices
due to more simplicity of construction and availability of materials. For this reason,
the roof of the building, initially designed with triangular section beams that needs
a very complex manufacturing, has been redesigned with standardized elements in
iron and for the secondary structure in wood. The whole roof was covered in wood
with staves about 15 cm wide and painted red as well as the elements of the building.
The choice to simplify the design of the elements that make up the pavilion also
guaranteed the involvement of local workers from the Multan district.
Related to the relationship with the surrounding space and orientation, the roof
has three overhangs on the east, south and west sides, while the north side, towards
the toilets, is devoid of them. To increase the shading, a row of trees placed to the
185
In relation to these preliminary objectives, the physical working phase has quite
been totally completed, except for the Sarafa Bazaar, for which the working documents have been finalized and the construction site is expected to be opened in few
months.
The first project component is the Haram Gate area, one of the most important
gateways to the Walled City. Today the precinct is a place of traffic and a starting
point of an important tourist route that leads to inner part of the Walled City. The
west side of the place, towards Alang Road, has been subject to recent demolitions of
a part of the urban texture built on the original site of the ancient city walls. Together
with the Gate conservation project, there was the need to act with a plan for the
entire reorganization of the place. The Haram Gate Place project, in fact, is strictly
connected with the Haram Gate conservation project, with the aim to create a real
urban place, in opposition to the current traffic and parking place, as a communitarian
site located at the entrance of the Walled City. For this purpose, the project shaped
a new sequence of spaces around the Haram Gate: the entire area—between the
Circular road and the Gate—has been paved with bricks, a new lighting system has
been settled, trees have been planted along the side of the place facing Circular Road,
and a new pavilion has been built, on the site of several ruined buildings, to create a
sort elevated terrace, covered by a steel and wooden structure, where the inhabitants
as well as the tourist, could enjoy a protected space.
The small pavilion refers to the typical elements of the architectural tradition of
the great royal gardens: the diwan was in fact a resting place in the shade set within
a composition of geometries and perspectives.
Compared to the first phase of the project, the pavilion underwent some substantial
changes regarding its shape and the materials. In fact, related to the architectural
characteristics of the building and the role it plays in the reorganization of the square,
its proportions have been revised. It has in fact opted for a plan based on a 3:5 ratio
clearly expressed thanks to the adopted structural step. The same ratio was maintained
between the short side and the height of the building. The design of the flooring and
the choice of materials remained almost unchanged compared to the first proposals.
The paving of the square is continuous and made with a brick already used for the
inner street inside the Walled City. The edge surface of the pavilion stylobate is made
within local white granite with pinkish veins about 30 cm wide.
The development of the project has also led to the revision of some initial choices
due to more simplicity of construction and availability of materials. For this reason,
the roof of the building, initially designed with triangular section beams that needs
a very complex manufacturing, has been redesigned with standardized elements in
iron and for the secondary structure in wood. The whole roof was covered in wood
with staves about 15 cm wide and painted red as well as the elements of the building.
The choice to simplify the design of the elements that make up the pavilion also
guaranteed the involvement of local workers from the Multan district.
Related to the relationship with the surrounding space and orientation, the roof
has three overhangs on the east, south and west sides, while the north side, towards
the toilets, is devoid of them. To increase the shading, a row of trees placed to the