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THE CITIZEN CENTRE, F-9 PARK: A MEANS TO BRIDGE THE GREEN GAP WITHIN THE CAPITAL CITY?







Amidst the puzzling silence of its majestic glory, the Citizen’s Club in F-9 Park seemingly has its own visual authenticity that challenges its very location. During this haze of a pandemic where it has been substituted as a meager vaccination center, this vast expanse of built form has been unapologetically abandoned due to socio-political conflict in a massive green epicenter of the Capital Territory of Islamabad.


Examining this work of art by Nayyar Ali Dada, an esteemed architect that needs no introduction, it is interesting to note that this building had been originally designed to fulfill the function of a multi-purpose recreational and cultural center. The structure was designed to cater to the socio-cultural and perhaps to some extent, the leisurely needs of the public.


The architectural language of this structure has an instant impact on the user in terms of the monotony of material that has been used in the cladding of the building. The brown sandstone not only speaks about the vernacularism that may have been intentionally imparted by the architect but, it also stands out amidst the green landscape of the site. The brown sandstone paired with the raw and surprisingly non-ornamental design of the traditional Jharokhas imbues the viewer to consciously interrogate the physical form of the structure.





In terms of accessibility, the building itself is very easily read by the user due to its open nature that also aligns with its location. The openness of the F-9 Park is subdued within the spatial configuration of the building as well. The interior of the building also mimics this phenomenon. This is immediately felt in the main lobby where natural light is embedded within the built structure through the usage of semicircular clerestory windows. It is also interesting to note that this very open planning has enabled the structure to be used as a vaccination center, thereby highlighting the adaptable nature of the structure. The spatial configuration of the interior of the building is also evidently marked by obvious cultural nuances in terms of decorative wall features or patterns. Although the interior of the building gives a mildly complete feel to the space, it certainly can serve as a user definitive space.


It is also noteworthy to mention the substantial potential that the abandoned site holds as a possible site for landscape appraisal. Given that the completion of the project was not met due to the CDA supposedly ruling out its functionality only for the elite, the surrounding area of the building holds promising potential when it comes to developing public spaces that can be used otherwise for recreational purposes that may or may not pertain to Citizen Centre itself. It is also interesting to note that post-Covid, landscaped areas have given people the respite that they evidently needed from the anxious bubble that they felt so entrapped in. This area serves as a perfect specimen that can be worked on to create spaces in the otherwise traditional urban fabric of the Capital Territory. This expansive site holds the potential to produce user definitive spaces that can bring about a change in the way such areas can provide a means of not only investing in a greener future but also bridging the green space gap that evidently exists in the urban context of the city.


Using this site as a means of exploring and eventually developing spaces that involve experimenting with the ‘green potential’ that F-9 park has to offer, this opportunity will not only help to identify the challenges that pertain to the completion of the project itself but also help to provide additional amenities for the public as well.

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