On 23 January 2025, the Jameel Arts Centre will host Lifelines: Tending to the Ruins, a thought-provoking conversation with architect and researcher Marvi Mazhar, moderated by architect and educator Ayesha Qaisar. This event is part of Night School 2025, a programme of seminars and public events curated by architect and writer Todd Reisz that focuses on exploring urbanism and history in Dubai. The discussion will take place in the Jameel Arts Centre’s Lobby from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM. Admission is free.
Marvi Mazhar will delve into the critical care of urban environments, drawing on her extensive work in Karachi (Pakistan) and beyond. Her approach emphasises heritage preservation as a vital component of sustaining a city’s living networks. Ayesha Qaisar will contextualise Mazhar’s work and explore strategies for maintaining buildings as dynamic living spaces rather than static structures.
The conversation will traverse the landscapes of Karachi and Dubai, connecting the two port cities to examine how architects, communities, and maintenance teams collaborate to keep buildings vibrant and meaningful in contemporary urban life.
About Marvi Mazhar
Marvi Mazhar, who resides in Karachi, obtained a BA (Hons) in Architecture from the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture (Karachi, 2009), a Dip. Master’s in World Heritage and Cultural Management from the University of Turin (Turin, Italy, 2012), and a Master’s from Goldsmiths, University of London (UK, 2021). She has been teaching at the Indus Valley School since 2022. Mazhar’s practice merges visual culture, spatial advocacy, and intervention with current research centred on the coastal periphery and ecological representation of Karachi.
Her career highlights include:
- Founding the Pakistan Chowk Community Centre in 2016.
- Membership in the Lahore Conservation Society and Karachi Biennale 2017.
- Acting as Secretary for the South Asia Foundation (SAF-Pakistan) and ICCOMOS.
- Leading heritage consultancy projects, including serving as Project Manager for the National History Museum in Lahore and advising the Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training in Pakistan.
- Currently overseeing heritage restoration at 13 sites in Kyrgyzstan, focusing on infrastructural and management connectivity.
To get more information about the Lifelines: Tending to the Ruins conversation, please go to the official web page of the event.
While at the Jameel Arts Centre, take the opportunity to explore Playscape: I Dreamt of a City Everyone Calls Home, an interactive sculptural playground designed for visitors of all ages. You might also enjoy our article about upcoming architectural marvels in the UAE.
