RIBA Royal Gold Medal awarded to Achitect and Humanitarian Yasmeen Lari

After natural disasters such as floods or earthquakes, aid agencies often resort to using expensive concrete or burnt brick structures as a go-to replacement for destroyed homes, believing that they are the only durable option. Lari calls this the “international colonial charity model,” where international NGOs and UN agencies bring in materials that are not native to the region, ignoring the importance of cultural context and traditional architectural practices.

The use of foreign materials can have significant issues. They are not immune to collapsing, and the heat-absorbing properties of concrete make it unsuitable for Pakistan’s scorching summers. Additionally, it is difficult for poorer villagers to maintain or expand settlements built with these materials, materials that are carbon intensive and worsen the greenhouse effect that is driving more catastrophic floods in the region.

Lari’s solution is to focus on local architectural traditions and design structures according to the specific conditions of the region. The Heritage Foundation of Pakistan is training villagers in Singh province to construct their own flood-resilient homes from cheap, locally available, and low-carbon materials such as bamboo panels reinforced with earth and lime, built on platforms.

With these skills, residents can expand their villages and train others, spreading the knowledge of sustainable, culturally appropriate, and resilient housing. The foundation has already helped build 3,500 homes in 60 villages, demonstrating the success of Lari’s approach. By promoting environmentally conscious and socially conscious architecture, Lari and the Heritage Foundation of Pakistan are paving the way for more resilient and sustainable housing for the most vulnerable communities.