A global programme exploring the intersections of gender, climate, sustainability and heritage through community and built environments.
The programme is co-developed with international partners to promote greater awareness and alternatives in responding to global challenges for people and planet.
The foundational activity, ‘climate-responsive structures’ is developed in partnership with Yasmeen Lari, from Heritage Foundation Pakistan, BRAC University and INTBAU.
Climate Responsive Structures
In 2020, British Council started developing a gender and climate change programme with Heritage Foundation Pakistan later to be joined by BRAC University in Bangladesh. In 2021, INTBAU chapters in Bangladesh, Pakistan and the UK joined the programme. The programme aims to emphasise and exemplify the empowerment of women in design and construction, as well as the vital roles that local materials and traditional methods of designing and building can play in providing a better built future both for people and our planet.
It was initiated through a gender grant to Heritage Foundation Pakistan to pilot the build of zero carbon structures by women in both Pakistan and Bangladesh, based on Yasmeen Lari’s designs. Lari created a series of video tutorials on YouTube’s Zero Carbon Channel to enable even lay persons to follow step by step instructions for constructing low cost safe bamboo and earth structures, which include an earthen Pakistan Chulah (stove), a prefabricated room for shelter and toilet for privacy. Initially the project aimed to test the capabilities of these online tutorials and the adaptation needed for different countries and climates. As a result of the project, several new resources were created and over 25 institutions became involved, with wide impact in both countries.
The project will travel to London, sitting alongside the chulah. A group of female students from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and the UK will work together to build, from start to finish, a bamboo structure designed by Lari. Other elements of the build include Cornish bamboo, textiles stitched by a Scottish Sewing Bee and tapestries crafted by women artisans in Bangladesh and Pakistan.
PK-UK Season: New Perspectives
New Perspectives brings together a group of women from Pakistan, including artisans and students, to build, decorate, and demonstrate the use of a chulah (a traditional Pakistani outdoor earthen cooking stove), designed by award-winning Pakistani architect Yasmeen Lari to enable women to self-build for greater safety and dignity in the preparation of food. The project aims to highlight the central role of women in the climate revolution.
The live build will take place in Granary Square in London from 21 – 26 May 2022 and host a programme of activities alongside the women building - sharing stories, knowledge and skills between women from Pakistan and the UK with the public. The events will include cooking sessions, talks, workshops and other activities, especially promoting the voices of young women.
This project is commissioned by the British Council and Heritage Foundation Pakistan. It has received additional support from INTBAU, World Habitat, Bank of Punjab and Zero Carbon Eco Centre.
Alongside the Pakistani chulah build, a 2-day event will platform voices from Pakistan, the UK and beyond to explore the intersections of gender and climate.
