Prominent Pakistani architect Habib Fida Ali passed away on Saturday.
Habib Fida Ali was one of Pakistan’s most celebrated and distinguished architects. He had numerous awards and accolades to his name. In 1956, he began his journey by becoming a part of The Architectural Association, a highly prestigious architecture institute in London, which consisted of the most accomplished professors and the brightest students.
Fida Ali’s architectural insight was deeply influenced and inspired by the famed American architect Robert Venturi, who opposed traditional opinions and provided alternate ways in face of established conventions. Fida qualified as an associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects and returned to Pakistan in 1964.
One of the earliest projects of Fida Ali was the Kohsaar Restaurant in Hill Park, which was evident of his architectural prowess. The building no longer exists, but is illustrated in Hasanuddin Khan’s book The Architecture of Habib Fida, which captures the distinguished architectural works of Fida Ali, ranging from private houses to public buildings.
He served on the Master Jury for the Aga Khan Award for Architecture and received many awards for his work. The acclaimed architect received prestigious awards for the design and construction of important corporate buildings, and one for the conservation and renovation of Mohatta Palace. The Institute of Architects Pakistan also recognised his services by bestowing him with the lifetime achievement award. Fida also served as the president of the Institute of Architects of Pakistan’s Karachi chapter and was also a council member of the Union of International Architects (Region IV). He had also worked on collaborative projects such as the Jumeirah Beach Residence in Dubai.
One of Fida Ali’s most celebrated projects was the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), described by famed architect Murlidhar Dawani as an amalgamation of western technology and eastern traditions. The university buildings emanate an aura of sophistication and tradition combined in a way that is evident of Fida’s brilliance.
