This week members of HLA had the privilege of hearing and meeting Yasmeen Lari, Pakistans’s first female architect, who after retiring from practice in 2000 turned to working in communities to build zero-carbon structures in disaster prone areas of Pakistan. Discussion regarding the re-invigoration of vernacular material use and the invaluable input of Architects in humanitarian work left everyone feeling like they wanted to give up their day job and go to help! Although Humanitarian need was the main topic, Yasmeen also delivered a powerful message to think about barefoot principals, the positive re-use of traditional materials and the importance of working with communities; principles applicable to all forms of architecture worldwide. 

 

For more on Yasmeen and her inspiring work: www.heritagefoundationpak.org

 

 

Helen Lucas Architects are now signatories of UK Architects Declare Climate and Biodiversity Emergency. 

This initiative is committed to strengthening working practices to create architecture and urbanism that has a positive impact on the world around us. We understand that environmentally conscientious design is imperative and believe it is critical to be part of the solution by transforming our practices to meet the needs of our society without breaching the earth’s ecological boundaries. 

 

We encourage all architects and construction professionals to sign the declaration.

 

Helen Lucas Architects would like to extend warm wishes to all our clients and collaborators for the festive period, and a happy new year to come.

 

Crisis provide education, training and support for homeless people, empowering them to leave homelessness and rebuild their lives.

 

Everyone at Helen Lucas Architects would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the family, friends and colleagues of Peter Elliott, who sadly passed away recently. As a Structural Engineer of particular talent Peter was a long-time collaborator and friend and his presence will be deeply missed, both in our practice and in the wider Scottish architectural and engineering community.

 

His obituary from the Scotsman by Malcolm Fraser can be found at this link. 

 

 

The project included extensive contemporary refurbishment of the existing spaces and opening up to the attic space, making the best of the astounding views across the sea to the iconic Bass Rock.  

 

The project was carried out in collaboration with Panoramic Properties.