Pluralism in Architecture of South Asia and other Regions on November 17-18, 2023 in Karachi, Pakistan

The two day conference deliberates on representation of pluralistic society in the South Asian and other parallel contexts, bringing together research works and papers by local and international scholars on Pluralistic Architecture History and Cultural Heritage. Reflected in ethnicity, culture, religion, and other social variables, contemporary and historic architecture both carry examples and influences. This viewpoint celebrates the rich mosaic of diversity that coexists, overlaps, and impacts the built environment in the South Asian context in particular and other regions in general, appreciating examples of communal plurality and its effects on the built environment. Subthemes include collective memories and architecture, regional and foreign influences on vernacular architectural practices, continuities and discontinuities in architecture of the past, trade, mobility, movement and its impact on architecture, indigenous wisdom and its reflection in architecture, exchanges in forms, layouts & materials of construction.

A short Roundtable Discussion is planned as part of the conference with the intent of engaging teachers, researchers and practitioners about curriculum structuring to involve greater focus on local and regional history, decolonizing west centered history teaching. Objectives of the conference are to invite scholars who are doing valuable work on regional history belonging to different communities to open up a platform for interaction and discussion on potential research directions, involvement of student body and teaching exercises. International and national scholars, professionals, academia and student body will be a part of the event.