This week You! takes a look at the fascinating interior of a heritage site, TDF Ghar, in Karachi.
interior
This week You! takes a look at the fascinating interior of a heritage site, TDF Ghar, in Karachi.
D iverse cultures, countless spoken languages, brilliant architectural heritage, and full of history, Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi, is the heart of the country. From being home to different religions, languages and cultures, the heritage and architectural value of the city of lights is as captivating as ever. And one such historical space is The Dawood Foundation Ghar, built in 1930s. Based on signature architectural style, it has been recently opened to public.
‘TDF Ghar’ is a microcosm to the modern city of Karachi. It tells the story of the city that went into the hands of visionaries like Charles Napier and Jamshed Nusserwanjee and blossomed into one of the biggest cities in the world.
TDF Ghar is located in the first dedicated cooperative residential complex for middle class in Jamshed Quarters, once home to multiple ethnicities like Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Parsis and Jews. The area was developed by Jamshed Nusserwanjee in 1922. The project marked the starting of urbanization of Karachi.
Collected archive records show that TDF Ghar was owned by a Hindu woman, Mrs Haribai Motiram, which she sold in April 1948 to Hanifabai Haji Gani for her daughter Aisha Bai Dawood in June 1948, for residential purposes. The house witnessed numerous historical movements including the exit of British Empire, partition of India and the construction of Quaid-e-Azam mausoleum in the growing metropolitan.
In April 1961, the house was donated to The Dawood Foundation for philanthropic educational activities. In 1965, Mr. Ahmed Dawood established Hanifa Hajiani Vocational Training Centre for community women with an aim to empower them. This was the era when the citizens took responsibility of developing Pakistan through education. The vocational centre used to house over 150 students in one batch that were trained in typing, cooking, sewing, painting, hand and machine embroidery and English language.
With the passage of time, the centre witnessed a decline and in 1991, it was closed down. The house remained vacant for a couple of years and was forcefully occupied by land grabbing mafia of Lyari town. After a long drawn out court case, the Foundation was able to repossess the property and restoration work began in 2016. After extensive work with the help of Shahab Ghani Architects, TDF Ghar opened its doors once again to serve the people of Karachi.
According to Ridhwan of TDF, “Basically, ‘Ghar’ is an informal learning space which has been converted into a museum. It follows the concept of T2F in Karachi, where people can come together for intellectual interactions, reading and entertainment. ‘Ghar’ was originally constructed in the 1930s; under an almond tree with hand-crafted tiles - a rich heritage building captured and transformed for modern use without losing its ethos.”
Regarding the facade, Ridhwan says, “It is a beautiful 1930s, pre-partition modern architecture with high ceilings, open verandas and wide roshandaan, that allow a lot of sunlight to pour in. It has a unique structure that is now a rare sight in Karachi.”
The place has retained the heritage architectural features of the house to preserve the living style of the past residents of the cosmopolitan city. The main attraction is ‘The Living Room’ museum, where antiques and collectables, such as vintage chess sets, a glass cupboard with fine china, an original silica treadle sewing machine, gramophone, radio, telephone, typewriter and lamps, from as early as 1930s, are preserved and showcased.
Restored with vintage fixtures such as an Anglo-Indian vanity dressing table and show pieces, ‘The Living Room’ also enchants visitors with old handmade tile work. The infrastructure, furniture, and decoration at the museum harmonise with one another, creating an ambience which takes one back to the lifestyle of people living in such pre-partition houses.
Once visitors have feasted their eyes on the historic collections, they can relax in the veranda called ‘Sehan Cafe’, which harnesses the Irani cafe culture that Karachi had been famous for, with bentwood chairs welcoming visitors. The warm yellow colour of the wall, with bamboo surroundings and lots of plants with the Champa flower tree- iconic to homes of the olden times. The Sehan makes for a perfect place to relax and unwind over chai and snacks.
Moreover, the stairs lead to three ‘Numaish Halls’ and a training room. The wall along the staircase has a number of historic pictures displayed in wooden frames. The halls can be utilised at the recently renovated house for organising workshops, trainings, seminars, exhibitions and other activities. The tiles on the second floor are all handmade. More of the original tiles that have been used to decorate the rooftop are collected from constructions that date back to the early half of the last century.
TDF Ghar also offers a scenic view of Quaid-e-Azam’s mausoleum from its rooftop where one can sit, relax and enjoy the view. Its boundary walls are bordered with beautiful flower boxes and a colourful mosaic of the house’s original tiles.
While entry to some portions of the building is free of charge, there is a charge of Rs 50 per person to visit ‘The Living Room’, which remains open between 10 am and 6 pm. ‘TDF Ghar’ surely provides antique surroundings with archaic paraphernalia to the visitors who come here to socialise and share ideas.
