Nayar Ali Dada to transform Mayo Gardens into smaller housing units--DISTURBING NEWS

[kleemann]

LAHORE: Pakistan Railways has asked renowned architect Nayar Ali Dada to transform the 125-acre Mayo Gardens, the sprawling Railway’s residential complex of the colonial era, into smaller housing units for Railway officers.

Railway sources told Daily Times on Wednesday that a proposal to fragment the garden’s mansions was being finalised and 40 Victorian style bungalows, previously allotted to railway officers of BPS-19 and above, would be dismantled and reassembled to accommodate the increasing number of officers.

Talking to Daily Times, Nayar Ali Dada confirmed that he had been contracted for the job but added that he would undertake the project with a heavy heart. “I clarified (to Railway officials) that it is impossible for me to ruin a masterpiece like the Mayo Gardens and if new houses are urgently required, there is a separate piece land spanning on five acres, which can house the new project.� He said that the new project would be designed to accommodate around 350 units as suggested by Railway authorities.

Javaid Iqbal, the Railways’ deputy general manager, said, “The number of Railway officers is increasing, so we don’t have much choice but to use this land to house them.� Building small housing units at Mayo Gardens was an idea proposed by Lt Gen (r) Javed Ashraf Qazi, the former Railways minister. Qazi had asked Railway officials to stop allotting bungalows in the Mayo Garden so that the vacated ones could be transformed into smaller housing unit.

When Ghos Bux Mehar, the current Railways minister, assumed charge he suspended his predecessor’s idea. Mehar was of the view that the Mayo Gardens were too precious a heritage to be meddled with. Ishaq Khan Khakwani, the state minister for Railways, said that no final policy had been developed for the future use of the Mayo Gardens, however the ministry had decided to develop the land for productive use. Khakwani said that at present, the ministry was working on the land situated in Karachi.

Ayaz Khan, a Mayo Garden resident and the son of a top Railways official, said that the gardens were a unique piece of land and too serene and beautiful to be demolished. “I have lived here since I was a child and have strong affiliations with this town. Though the Railways has its problems (officers’ accommodations), this great site should be preserved at all costs.�


Source: Daily Times

[nn||nr]

This should have been done years ago, living in too large houses and too many perks has given govt officers heads bigger than the country theyre supposed to be running
If someones worried about mayo gardens beauty then the Railways should sell off the whole thing with an assurance that they wont be destroyed and move the railway officers to a smaller residence.

[Cateye]

Originally Posted by nn||nr

This should have been done years ago, living in too large houses and too many perks has given govt officers heads bigger than the country theyre supposed to be running
If someones worried about mayo gardens beauty then the Railways should sell off the whole thing with an assurance that they wont be destroyed and move the railway officers to a smaller residence.

agree

[walli]

I've met nayyer ali dada at one of his lectures, and I can tell you for a fact that there is no man who has more respect for classic architecture, or wide open spaces than nayyer...he was one of the guys who actually risked their jobs to save the lahore high court building...

so if he's doing this, it's NOT because he WANTS to...

[Cateye]

Originally Posted by walli

I've met nayyer ali dada at one of his lectures, and I can tell you for a fact that there is no man who has more respect for classic architecture, or wide open spaces than nayyer...he was one of the guys who actually risked their jobs to save the lahore high court building...

so if he's doing this, it's NOT because he WANTS to...

no offence but he is teh 1who design the ALAHMARA ... n teh roof Collided....


































PS : if i am not wrong n my memmory serves me right my dad topld me once healso design our building ...

[walli]

you should have seen the budget they gave for the alhamra...it was rejected by two other architects, because they thought it was impossible to build with that kind of money...itnay paison mein yahee hota hai.