A. R. Hye
Encyclopedia
Abdur Rahman Hye; December 17, 1919 — September 18, 2008) was a Pakistan
i architect
and a pioneer of institutional architecture in Pakistan
. He was popularly known as "A.R. Hye".
in pre-partition
India
, A.R. Hye travelled aboard ocean liner SS Ile de France
from Bombay to the United Kingdom
on a trip which in those days took three weeks on the ship, and later took him seven years in United Kingdom
to train as an architect. He received his architecture degree from the University of Edinburgh
in 1951 and was admitted to the membership of the Royal Institute of British Architects
(RIBA). He received some of his early education in Hyderabad State
when his family moved there temporarily.
He arrived in Europe after World War II
, and witnessed first-hand the reconstruction of Europe. This experience influenced his architecture and his philosophy, and once he returned home he specialised in using indigenous resources to provide maximum comfort. He used natural ventilation, strategic placement of windows, courtyards and overhangs and used wind flow in some designs to provide natural protection against harsh exterior climate conditions. Those days he was one of the few qualified architects in his newly independent country.http://archnet.org/shared/file-storage/file.jsp?inode=369973 In 1952, after his return from the UK, A.R. Hye married Qudsia. They have three children: Laique, Fatimah wife of Syed Waliullah Husaini, and Ayesha wife of Kazi Zulkader Siddiqui.
A.R. Hye returned to the UK in the 1960s, to specialise in Tropical Architecture at the Architectural Association School of Architecture
in London.
into India and Pakistan. Hye moved to East Pakistan
after his return, where his education and background gave him the opportunity to use his skills to influence the architectural landscape of his country at a very early stage. A.R. Hye is considered the father of Institutional Architecture in Pakistan.http://archnet.org/shared/file-storage/file.jsp?inode=372412
His first major assignment in East Pakistan was to design and build the infrastructure of the new country. Thus in the 1950s, early in his career, Hye became the Chief Town Planner of the port city of Chittagong
. In this capacity, he was responsible for working on the master plan of Chittagong Township and Cox's Bazaar
. He also worked as Architect Planner in Dhaka
.
In 1958 he moved to West Pakistan
, and joined the Government in 1959 to become the first Chief Architect of the Government of West Pakistan. He was responsible for the architectural design of all government buildings in the cities and towns of West Pakistan, including Karachi
, Lahore
, Rawalpindi
, Peshawar
, Quetta
, Multan
, Jhelum, Bahawalpur
, Sialkot
, Gujrat
, Mardan
, Faisalabad
, Sahiwal
, Hyderabad
, Mianwali
, and Kalabagh
. He remained in this key position until West Pakistan was broken into four provinces
, after the resignation of President Ayub Khan. Thereafter, he was asked to become the Chief Architect of the Government of Punjab
, the largest of the four provinces. Based in Lahore, he remained in that position until his retirement from government service in 1981. Many of his designs were built in the early 80's after his retirement.
As Chief Architect of West Pakistan and Punjab, his designs included colleges, schools, polytechnic institutions, hospitals, housing schemes and townships. During this period, he designed more buildings than any other architect of his era in Pakistan.http://archnet.org/shared/file-storage/file.jsp?inode=372412 The best known of his projects is the Bahawalpur Medical College, now renamed Quaid-e-Azam Medical College
, in Bahawalpur
. His projects also included many Tehsil
Hospitals.
His buildings were constructed before air conditioning
became commonplace in the region. Thus, his designs are adapted to their conditions, and are an example of "tropical architecture". The buildings incorporated strategically placed windows and overhangs, and relied on natural ventilation
to moderate the extremely hot climate. Bold overhangs and courtyards are characteristic of his designs. These overhangs provided natural shade to the exterior walls of the building, protecting it from intense heat during summer, and acting as a barrier to winter cold winds, which are characteristic of the climate of inland Pakistan. His early designs had bold linear features which in later stages included more traditional arches in his design for climate control. In addition to architecture he was committed to eductation. He was successful in setting up schools in areas where landowners opposed them as they were afraid people would revolt against their tyranny after receiving education.
Upon his retirement from service in 1981, A.R. Hye spent a few years traveling and living in the USA. Since 1995, he lived a retired life in Islamabad
in a house designed by himself. A.R. Hye died http://www.archpresspk.com/September_Architect.htm in Islamabad on September 18, 2008.
Long after his death thousands of students will graduate each year from the schools, colleges, universities and polytechnic institutes he designed, and patients will get cured at the hospitals he designed and his other works will continue to touch the daily lives of people in one of the most densely populated regions of the world years after his death.
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Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
i architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
and a pioneer of institutional architecture in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. He was popularly known as "A.R. Hye".
Early life and training
After graduating from Sir J.J. College of Architecture, BombayMumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
in pre-partition
Partition (politics)
In politics, a partition is a change of political borders cutting through at least one territory considered a homeland by some community. That change is done primarily by diplomatic means, and use of military force is negligible....
India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, A.R. Hye travelled aboard ocean liner SS Ile de France
SS Ile de France
The SS Ile de France was a French ocean liner built in Saint-Nazaire, France for the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique. The ship was the first major ocean liner built after the conclusion of World War I and was the first liner ever to be decorated entirely with designs associated with the Art Deco...
from Bombay to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
on a trip which in those days took three weeks on the ship, and later took him seven years in United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to train as an architect. He received his architecture degree from the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
in 1951 and was admitted to the membership of the Royal Institute of British Architects
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
(RIBA). He received some of his early education in Hyderabad State
Hyderabad State
-After Indian independence :When India gained independence in 1947 and Pakistan came into existence in 1947, the British left the local rulers of the princely states the choice of whether to join one of the new dominions or to remain independent...
when his family moved there temporarily.
He arrived in Europe after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and witnessed first-hand the reconstruction of Europe. This experience influenced his architecture and his philosophy, and once he returned home he specialised in using indigenous resources to provide maximum comfort. He used natural ventilation, strategic placement of windows, courtyards and overhangs and used wind flow in some designs to provide natural protection against harsh exterior climate conditions. Those days he was one of the few qualified architects in his newly independent country.http://archnet.org/shared/file-storage/file.jsp?inode=369973 In 1952, after his return from the UK, A.R. Hye married Qudsia. They have three children: Laique, Fatimah wife of Syed Waliullah Husaini, and Ayesha wife of Kazi Zulkader Siddiqui.
A.R. Hye returned to the UK in the 1960s, to specialise in Tropical Architecture at the Architectural Association School of Architecture
Architectural Association School of Architecture
The Architectural Association School of Architecture, more usually known as the AA, is an architectural school in London, United Kingdom...
in London.
Career
While A.R. Hye was in the UK, India gained independence from Britain, and was partitionedPartition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
into India and Pakistan. Hye moved to East Pakistan
East Pakistan
East Pakistan was a provincial state of Pakistan established in 14 August 1947. The provincial state existed until its declaration of independence on 26 March 1971 as the independent nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan recognized the new nation on 16 December 1971. East Pakistan was created from Bengal...
after his return, where his education and background gave him the opportunity to use his skills to influence the architectural landscape of his country at a very early stage. A.R. Hye is considered the father of Institutional Architecture in Pakistan.http://archnet.org/shared/file-storage/file.jsp?inode=372412
His first major assignment in East Pakistan was to design and build the infrastructure of the new country. Thus in the 1950s, early in his career, Hye became the Chief Town Planner of the port city of Chittagong
Chittagong
Chittagong ) is a city in southeastern Bangladesh and the capital of an eponymous district and division. Built on the banks of the Karnaphuli River, the city is home to Bangladesh's busiest seaport and has a population of over 4.5 million, making it the second largest city in the country.A trading...
. In this capacity, he was responsible for working on the master plan of Chittagong Township and Cox's Bazaar
Cox's Bazar District
Cox's Bazar District is a district in the Chittagong Division of Bangladesh. It is named after Cox's Bazar, which is one of the world's longest natural sea beaches . It is located south of Chittagong. Cox's Bazar is also known by the name Panowa . Another old name was Palongkee...
. He also worked as Architect Planner in Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
.
In 1958 he moved to West Pakistan
West Pakistan
West Pakistan , common name West-Pakistan , in the period between its establishment on 22 November 1955 to disintegration on December 16, 1971. This period, during which, Pakistan was divided, ended when East-Pakistan was disintegrated and succeeded to become which is now what is known as Bangladesh...
, and joined the Government in 1959 to become the first Chief Architect of the Government of West Pakistan. He was responsible for the architectural design of all government buildings in the cities and towns of West Pakistan, including Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
, Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi , locally known as Pindi, is a city in the Pothohar region of Pakistan near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad...
, Peshawar
Peshawar
Peshawar is the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the administrative center and central economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan....
, Quetta
Quetta
is the largest city and the provincial capital of the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. Known as the "Fruit Garden of Pakistan" due to the diversity of its plant and animal wildlife, Quetta is home to the Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, which contains some of the rarest species of wildlife in the...
, Multan
Multan
Multan , is a city in the Punjab Province of Pakistan and capital of Multan District. It is located in the southern part of the province on the east bank of the Chenab River, more or less in the geographic centre of the country and about from Islamabad, from Lahore and from Karachi...
, Jhelum, Bahawalpur
Bahawalpur
Bahawalpur , located in the province of Punjab, is the twelfth largest city in Pakistan. The city was once the capital of the former princely state of Bahawalpur. The city was home to various Nawabs and counted as part of the Rajputana states...
, Sialkot
Sialkot
Sialkot is a city in Pakistan situated in the north-east of the Punjab province at the foothills of snow-covered peaks of Kashmir near the Chenab river. It is the capital of Sialkot District. The city is about north-west of Lahore and only a few kilometers from Indian-controlled Jammu.The...
, Gujrat
Gujrat
Gujrat is a city in Pakistan. It is the capital of Gujrat District and the Gujrat Tehsil subdivision in the Punjab Province. People living in Gujrat refer to themselves as Gujratis, which sometimes leads to confusion with people from the Indian state of Gujarat which adjoins Pakistan...
, Mardan
Mardan
Mardan , known as The city of hospitality, is a city and headquarters of Mardan District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. It is the de facto headquarters of the Yousafzai tribe and the second most populous city in the province, located at 34°12'0N 72°1'60E and an altitude of in the south...
, Faisalabad
Faisalabad
Faisalabad , formerly known as Lyallpur, is the third largest metropolis in Pakistan, the second largest in the province of Punjab after Lahore, and a major industrial center in the heart of Pakistan. Before the foundation of the city in 1880, the area was very thinly populated. The population has...
, Sahiwal
Sahiwal
Sahiwal is a city in Punjab, Pakistan. It is the administrative centre of Sahiwal District and Sahiwal Division. Sahiwal is approximately 180 km from the major city Lahore and is the city between Lahore and Multan...
, Hyderabad
Hyderabad, Sindh
is the second largest city in the Sindh province of Pakistan. It is the seventh largest city in the country. The city was founded in 1768 by Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro upon the ruins of a Mauryan fishing village along the bank of the Indus known as Neroon Kot...
, Mianwali
Mianwali
Mianwali is the capital city of Mianwali District and situated in the north-west of Punjab province, Pakistan. The city is located on the eastern bank of the Indus River...
, and Kalabagh
Kalabagh
Kalabagh a town and union council of Mianwali District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is located on the western bank of Indus River. It is the site of the proposed Kalabagh Dam. It is also famous for its red hills of the salt range and scenic view of the Indus River traversing through the...
. He remained in this key position until West Pakistan was broken into four provinces
Subdivisions of Pakistan
The administrative units of Pakistan consist of four provinces, one federal capital territory, and a group of federally-administered tribal areas...
, after the resignation of President Ayub Khan. Thereafter, he was asked to become the Chief Architect of the Government of Punjab
Punjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
, the largest of the four provinces. Based in Lahore, he remained in that position until his retirement from government service in 1981. Many of his designs were built in the early 80's after his retirement.
Quaid-e-Azam Medical College
Quaid e Azam Medical College is a medical college in Bahawalpur, Pakistan.Quaid e Azam Medical College was founded on 2nd Dec 1971 when its foundation stone was laid by the then Governor of Punjab Lt Gen Attique-ur-Rehman . The college is affiliated for clinical training to Bahawalpur Victoria...
, in Bahawalpur
Bahawalpur
Bahawalpur , located in the province of Punjab, is the twelfth largest city in Pakistan. The city was once the capital of the former princely state of Bahawalpur. The city was home to various Nawabs and counted as part of the Rajputana states...
. His projects also included many Tehsil
Tehsil
A Tehsil or Tahsil/Tahasil , also known as Taluk and Mandal, is an administrative division of some country/countries of South Asia....
Hospitals.
His buildings were constructed before air conditioning
Air conditioning
An air conditioner is a home appliance, system, or mechanism designed to dehumidify and extract heat from an area. The cooling is done using a simple refrigeration cycle...
became commonplace in the region. Thus, his designs are adapted to their conditions, and are an example of "tropical architecture". The buildings incorporated strategically placed windows and overhangs, and relied on natural ventilation
Natural ventilation
Natural ventilation is the process of supplying and removing air through an indoor space without using mechanical systems. It refers to the flow of external air to an indoor space as a result of pressure or temperatures differences. There are two types of natural ventilation occurring in...
to moderate the extremely hot climate. Bold overhangs and courtyards are characteristic of his designs. These overhangs provided natural shade to the exterior walls of the building, protecting it from intense heat during summer, and acting as a barrier to winter cold winds, which are characteristic of the climate of inland Pakistan. His early designs had bold linear features which in later stages included more traditional arches in his design for climate control. In addition to architecture he was committed to eductation. He was successful in setting up schools in areas where landowners opposed them as they were afraid people would revolt against their tyranny after receiving education.
Upon his retirement from service in 1981, A.R. Hye spent a few years traveling and living in the USA. Since 1995, he lived a retired life in Islamabad
Islamabad
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...
in a house designed by himself. A.R. Hye died http://www.archpresspk.com/September_Architect.htm in Islamabad on September 18, 2008.
Long after his death thousands of students will graduate each year from the schools, colleges, universities and polytechnic institutes he designed, and patients will get cured at the hospitals he designed and his other works will continue to touch the daily lives of people in one of the most densely populated regions of the world years after his death.
Selected projects
- Bahawalpur Medical College, now Quaid-e-Azam Medical CollegeQuaid-e-Azam Medical CollegeQuaid e Azam Medical College is a medical college in Bahawalpur, Pakistan.Quaid e Azam Medical College was founded on 2nd Dec 1971 when its foundation stone was laid by the then Governor of Punjab Lt Gen Attique-ur-Rehman . The college is affiliated for clinical training to Bahawalpur Victoria...
, Bahawalpur - Khyber Medical CollegeKhyber Medical CollegeKhyber Medical College is located in the city of Peshawar, Pakistan. It is listed in the World Health Organization directory of medical schools and is one of the several graduate colleges of the University of Peshawar. It provides training to future leaders in patient care and provides modern...
, Peshawar - Buildings at Mayo HospitalMayo HospitalMayo Hospital is one of the oldest and biggest hospital in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. King Edward Medical University is the attached university which is Pakistan's most prestigious and South Asia's second oldest institution.-History:...
, Lahore (1960-early 80's) - Buildings at Nishter Medical College, Multan (1960-80's)
- Auditorium, Lahore College for Women UniversityLahore College for Women UniversityLahore College for Women University is an independent women's university in Lahore, Pakistan, founded as a women's college in 1922. One of the oldest female institutions of Pakistan, the university has approximately 7,000 students and a teaching faculty of more than 330. It admits students at the...
- Mosque, Gazetted Officers Residences (GOR) I, Lahore
- Additions to APWA College for Women
- Minister's Residences, Lahore
- Officers Housing, GOR III Shadman, Lahore