Abstract:
The term 'place' as opposed to space expresses a strong affective bond between a person
and a particular setting. Due to the growth of technological advances and globalization,
people have lost sense of place and attachment. Architecture without regard to its
surrounding context, social and cultural fabric results in meaningless spaces that create
alienation and disconnect. Such spaces are culturally unidentifiable and are similar
anywhere. Architecture therefore needs to respond to its surrounding context in order to
become an integral part of it that seems 'in place 'rather than 'out of place'. Architecture,
instead of acting as a parasite feeding off the host should give something back to its
surrounding. A symbiotic relationship between the built and the unbuilt can be formed
which is mutually advantageous. Such type of symbiotic relationship is called mutualism. The
idea is to regenerate the site by adding architecture as a plugin to the already existing fabric
and building upon the distinct identity and characteristic of the place that are unique from
the rest of the environments. By doing so, architecture has the possibility of acting as a
catalyst for regenerating neglected but potential tourist sites.
The site chosen for the project is Shah Allah Ditta caves located between Taxilla and
Islamabad. It's a 2400 year old heritage site that make the comparatively new city of
Islamabad historically rich. However, very few people are familiar with it. CDA's attempt to
regenerate the site by adding resorts and expensive restaurants have further destroyed the
character of the site. Due to the neglect on government as well as local's part, the site is in
brinks of destruction. The idea is to restore the original character of the site and to put forth
a critique and a comparison on how one should regenerate such a sensitive place.
