A Taste of Lahore

Re: # 8
The Lahore Fort in its present form was started by Akbar the Great in the late Fifiteenth Century, and was added onto by his successive generations.
Aurangzeb didnot come into the picture as late as mid seventeenth Century.
Also, The Alhambra complex derives its inspiration from the twelveth century Spanish Muslim Palace Complex called Alhambra or the Red. Architecturally, Nayyar Ali Dada`s Alhambra Open Air theatre or the Arts Center on Mall Road have practically nothing in common with the Lahore Fort.
I would urge you to go visit http://archnet.org and observe for yourself.
:)

Dear Shoresahib #8:

An extract from your reference web site :
http://archnet.org

The Alhamra Arts Council in the 1970s retained architect Nayyar Ali Dada to design a 1,000 seat multi-purpose auditorium that was built and completed in 1979. The council was later placed under the auspices of a government agency, the Lahore Arts Council, which oversaw the three subsequent phases of the project: four octagonal structures for administrative offices and art exhibition galleries that opened in 1984; a 450-seat theatre attached to the auditorium completed in 1985; and a 250-seat lecture and recital hall finished in 1992. Throughout this 15-year process, architect Dada used various combinations of polygonal shapes that meet the acoustic requirements of the performing arts. These forms are also ingeniously placed on the site to semi-enclose courtyards and green spaces. Another basic idea to which he adhered was the use of handmade red brick with traditional local mortar as veneer for the cast-in-place concrete walls. Red brick is the main building material at the Lahore Fort and Badshahi Mosque, the two most important historic buildings in the city. It was also the material most widely used by the British, and recalls the red sandstone architecture of Mughal Lahore. The jury found the complex to be ``a rare example of flexible spaces that has enabled several additions to be made over time, each of which has in turn enhanced, rather than detracted from, its overall architectural value. This is a very popular and successful public building, projecting its complexities in a simple and powerful manner.``

Recipient of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, 1998.

(Source: AKTC)


I had the priveladge to visit the Alhambra in Granada and the grand mosque in Cordoba back in 2002. There is no doubt that the Muslim Spanish architecture is at its best in the Alhambra designs and there are some similarities with the alhamra arts council, however the brick work is totally local and ispired by the Mughal designs. Shalimar Gardens, The Kamran`s Bara Dari in the middle of Ravi river, The Red Fort, The Badshahi mosque and the remaining gates of the old city have something in common with the newer designs of Nayyar Ali... the inspiration of local materials and patterns in structure.

Perhaps you are more accurate about the erection of the Lahore Fort - aurangzeb indeed being the the Mughal King in the late seventeenth centuary. Thanks!

Ciao,
jnz

Clarification:
Dear JamshedNazar Sahib,
``Red brick is the main building material at the Lahore Fort and Badshahi Mosque, the two most important historic buildings in the city. It was also the material most widely used by the British, and recalls the red sandstone architecture of Mughal Lahore`` ArchNet
Red Brick is actually the main building material of most all North Indian architecture.
The brickwork style preceeds the Mughal Era, and can be seen in India as early as Delhi Sultanates. The Qutb Minar in Delhi is a prime example. The Brickwork is actually a cultural import from central Asia along with the Inclusion of the persian Kashi tiles. eg the cities of Samarkand and Bukhara are good examples. The Mughal tradition of using the brickwork is quite evident in the Shahjahani mosque of Thatta, but that too borrows from the Mausoleum tradition prevalent in Southern Punjab and northern Sindh. The Mughals usually hid their brickwork under sandstone or marble cladding as is noted in Lahore Fort or Baadshahi mosque.

Although I do agree with you that one does see the brickwork patterns used in the walkways of Shalimaar Gardens, Divan-e-Aam, and Jahangiri Mahal used to a gloriously harmony in the Facade of Alhamra Art Center.