British Council

Karachi, Pakistan

New offices and residence for the British Council in Pakistan

The security situation in Karachi necessitated the relocation of the British Council Offices and Directors Residence into a new building within the secure compound of the British Deputy High Commission.

The new building was on a tight site in the centre of the compound and required its own access through the external compound wall. Security requirements both for access and for the structure of the building itself were high; and environmental controls to provide a good working environment essential.

Pre-cast concrete panels form the structure and ‘cladding’ to the building purely for security reasons. Areas of glazing primarily at each end of the building were protected from direct sunlight by tinted glass louvres and the central offices received filtered daylight through deep circular rooflights.

A simple, straightforward approach to design resulted in a robust, elegant building with an attractive working environment for the end user.