KBDA
Project#:	1998-019
Recognition:	Honorable Mention
Name:	Al-Hamra Open Air Theater
Location:	Lahore, Pakistan
Completed:	1993
Firm:	Nayyar Ali Dada & Associates
Architect:	Dada, Nayyar Ali
NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION:
An open air theatre in the round, it houses a small theatre (350 seats), lecture hall, green rooms, and services placed under the sloped seating. The theatre can accommodate 4500 spectators for performances; festivals. The forecourt lends itself to funfairs and cultural melas. The drum shape with regular arches and entrance steps wrapped in rising staggered wall, hint the ancient coliseum. Even the solitary columns in the forecourt suggest subtly the ancient character of such arenas. Brick cladding and its detailing in blue tiles signal the traditional mausoleums of Multan. Its the very vivid montage of two ancient architectural expressions; one to describe its function and the other its outer enumeration, which is readily accepted by the public. The stage nestles amidst brick clad tiers. The steps rise in segments around the stage jostling and clustered together to get the maximum audio-visual clarity even for the last rows. Due to the intimate juxtaposition, most of the audiences relate frontally to the facial expression of the performer, which liven up live concerts and performances. The space under the stepped tiers has been used, partially for the backstage facilities, while half of the segment facing the forecourt and public has developed into lively commercial enterprise ensuring full day mayhem and activity. This helps in symbolizing the theatre not as a forlorn monument of culture in a straitjacket but the centre of joyous milieu and activity. The Alhamra Open Air Theatre, the Cricket Stadium and the Permanent Art Gallery all depict the diverse activities of one culture with their distinct functional forms yet expressive of their common identity through the tacit use of brick enumeration. The contextual development although done in various phases has tried to integrate the units within the whole, as a complex, rather than a pot pourri of arenas.
USER ASSESSMENT:	Nazir Ahmad Chaudhry Lahore Arts Council
The project provides the largest gallery space for performing arts in Lahore due to the flexibility of designed space. It has catered for the following multiple uses, large musical concerts, plays, puppet festivals, seminars, art shows and various other activities. Space in and around the building, the architectural ambiance of the place has inspired artists a great deal. International troupe have invariably commended the project for its elegance and utility, both the outdoors and indoors. Equally useful income from the commercial areas help in running the expenses of the project. Alhamra is now established as the National Centre of Arts in the country.
JURY COMMENTS:
The construction of this large project has revived a near dying tradition of hand-made blue tile. These tiles were traditionally used for construction of architectural monuments in the region of Multan in Pakistan. There future and the skills of the local artisans is threatened by the industrializing and modernizing aspirations of this young country. The architect of this project is recognized for creatively providing the modern requirements of an open air theater while reviving a traditional craft of the region.