National Museum Design Competition Winners Announced

ISLAMABAD: A Karachi-based architecture firm, ARCOP Pvt Limited won the first position in a design competition held for the design of National Museum Islamabad near Shakarparian at Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) on Thursday.
Daily Times

Daily Times Article…

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National Museum design competition winners announced
by Daily Times
published: November 16, 2007

The winner of the first position has been awarded a cash prize of Rs 150,000, while the second and third position winner Arshadullah and Nayyar Ali Dada were awarded cash prizes of Rs 100,000 and Rs 75,000 respectively. Nine designers participated in the competition.

The design competition was arranged by the Department of Archeology and Museums, Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the Pakistan Council of Architects and Town Planners (PCATP).

The new museum of the Federal Department of Archeology will house artefacts belonging to the Stone Age, Indus Civilization, Gandhara Civilization, Hindu Rule, Early Islamic and Mughal Periods and the Freedom Movement. It will also have Art and Children’s sections. While giving the presentation of the design, ARCOP’s architect Jilani said that the design portrayed characteristics of various civilizations that existed in the historic Indus Valley. “While designing its architecture, we kept in mind various regions of our country from the mighty Himalayas to the Indus Valley,” he said.

Jilani claimed that the design had a close resemblance to the old traditional Montessori of the Gandhara Civilization. “The entrance of the museum will be 40 feet high from the ground level, while a Banyan tree will be planted nearby to give a close resemblance to the Gandhara structure,” he said.

Ministry of Culture Secretary Shahid Rafi said that the results were compiled solely on the basis of merit. “The ground breaking ceremony for the National Museum will soon be held on the premises of Shakerparian, where its model will be displayed,” he said.

Rafi said the museum would serve as a milestone to present and preserve the rich cultural heritage of Pakistan. “After shifting the capital from Karachi to Islamabad, there was dire need to establish a national museum at the capital,” he said.

Rafi said that efforts were made and schemes prepared to establish the museum, which could not be implemented due to unavoidable circumstances.

Minister for Culture GG Jamal said that the government had tried its best to promote cultural manifestations across the country.

“Our country has a rich and varied cultural heritage with great potential for establishing a series of varied museums throughout its length and breadth,” he said. He said that Pakistani culture was colourful, its arts and crafts bewitching, its archeological discoveries unique and its technological achievements great.

“We have everything that can provide an impetus for establishing a house, where the visual achievements of the country and its people can be stored, displayed and preserved on modern lines,” he said.