Sharan-e-Sikh: A learner’s refuge

Abstract

The Sikh community is a marginalized community in Pakistan which is reaching extinction rapidly due to lack of representation and sense of belonging. From total disregard of their identity to not being considered in the 2017 population census, they have struggled to make a make a mark or voice their opinions. Their history, architecture and community has been constantly overlooked, socially and economically. Their community has not progressed which is evident in their architecture as well. Mosque and church typologies have evolved keeping in mind the modern needs, innovations, and contemporary architecture. Their gurdwaras have overtime become religious places rather than the original knowledge centers. This thesis focuses on building a progressive platform for learning and convening by finding a balance between the old and the new, the historic architectures and traditions against the modern civic needs to find an equilibrium. The visitor center ‘Sharan-e-Sikh’, which literally means a learner’s refuge, focuses on creating a space that allows people from all religions, ages, and genders to experience the culture, history, and traditions of a community with deep roots in Punjab, Pakistan. It focuses on introducing new innovative architectural solutions for the modern civic needs while maintaining the integrity of the traditional typology to a certain extent. The balance between the two is found by translating elements from the gurdwara architecture into the new and improved learning center which includes exhibitions, event spaces for traditional Sikh activities such as Gatka or Sangeet, communal spaces such as shared farms and eatery and workshops for arts and crafts as well as new technologies. The center is a mark that establishes their identity and territory outside their strictly religious buildings by providing a community learning space that focuses on their integral belief of always improving and striving to be the best version of themselves. A triangulation research methodology has been used to utilize both, quantitative and qualitative data in order to achieve better design strategies.