A pearl in Walled City of Lahore
MAIRA FAYYAZ
LAHORE - The dream of Sadaruddin Hashwani for building a grand hotel in the cozy-traditional atmosphere of Walled City would become reality in one and a half year, sources confided to The Nation here on Monday.
Currently the conversion of the Haveli into a hotel is going on its acme under the custody of connoisseur architects and designers.
Few years back the owner of the Pearl Continental Hotel, Hashwani had bought a Haveli of Pirzadas set up in 1937 for Rs 7 million and the process of face-lifting had been started right away by the experts.
Sources said that at the beginning it was confined to 400 rooms but an abrupt change came about when he bought another piece of land about six month ago for annexation into the Haveli which further prompted re-designing and re-sketching of the project.
The total area acquired spreads over 3 kanal. Sources said that it was a good step taken by Hashwani because it would allow architects to set up pillars on the sides of the Haveli for the support of ancient structure.
Sources revealed the services of architects and designers had been hired from across the border for this the grand project.
Indian architect Sunita Kholly, an eminent interior designer who had designed many Indian government offices, had teamed up with well-known Pakistani architect Yasmien Lariy to produce the best possible effect.
About the height of Haveli, sources said there were some restrictions in this connection as they could not elevate the height of Haveli, adding they were working keeping in view maximum degree of caution.
Sources said that the central courtyard would not be changed because in Hashwani's view it was the real essence of the Haveli, adding that by and large the design of entire structure would be retained which had 400 rooms.
Source said that the basic purpose of establishing the hotel in the warm ambience of Walled City was to give foreign tourists a flare of celebrating traditional festivals especially Basant.
According to the architects the hotel would provide a best lodging place for the tourists homely away from home.
"The current position of the Haveli is not stable. The work on its foundation has started and will be completed soon", sources said.
The basic intention to conserve this haveli is to give it the look of a Mughal architecture.
"The ancient look will attract tourists who love to seeing the ancient of Lahore when they come here", sources said.
Coupled with the fact that old buildings had collapsed in Walled City during torrential rains the height restrictions could not be ignored besides Hashwani didn't want any arrangement to deprive the tourists of the sight of Badshahi that could vanish with any addition in the height of the structure.

http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/sep-2006/5/localnews1.php

that seems a wonderful news. & he should name it "Mughal Pearl Continental"

very ingenious thoughts... thats good

Hashwani is a smart businessman. Creative..would love to see it once its complete.

sounds great something different

this is right next to herra mandi aswell

Well we can not help the fact that Heera Mandi is in such a good location. We all know about the existance of the place so why dont we shut them DOWN?!

^^^ what? and what about all the political influencial people that call girsl for mujra, and what about the police people that recieve 'hafta' from the pimps and frequent the call girls?

You must be kidding, right?

A pearl in Walled City of Lahore
MAIRA FAYYAZ
LAHORE - The dream of Sadaruddin Hashwani for building a grand hotel in the cozy-traditional atmosphere of Walled City would become reality in one and a half year, sources confided to The Nation here on Monday.
Currently the conversion of the Haveli into a hotel is going on its acme under the custody of connoisseur architects and designers.
Few years back the owner of the Pearl Continental Hotel, Hashwani had bought a Haveli of Pirzadas set up in 1937 for Rs 7 million and the process of face-lifting had been started right away by the experts.
Sources said that at the beginning it was confined to 400 rooms but an abrupt change came about when he bought another piece of land about six month ago for annexation into the Haveli which further prompted re-designing and re-sketching of the project.
The total area acquired spreads over 3 kanal. Sources said that it was a good step taken by Hashwani because it would allow architects to set up pillars on the sides of the Haveli for the support of ancient structure.
Sources revealed the services of architects and designers had been hired from across the border for this the grand project.
Indian architect Sunita Kholly, an eminent interior designer who had designed many Indian government offices, had teamed up with well-known Pakistani architect Yasmien Lariy to produce the best possible effect.
About the height of Haveli, sources said there were some restrictions in this connection as they could not elevate the height of Haveli, adding they were working keeping in view maximum degree of caution.
Sources said that the central courtyard would not be changed because in Hashwani's view it was the real essence of the Haveli, adding that by and large the design of entire structure would be retained which had 400 rooms.
Source said that the basic purpose of establishing the hotel in the warm ambience of Walled City was to give foreign tourists a flare of celebrating traditional festivals especially Basant.
According to the architects the hotel would provide a best lodging place for the tourists homely away from home.
"The current position of the Haveli is not stable. The work on its foundation has started and will be completed soon", sources said.
The basic intention to conserve this haveli is to give it the look of a Mughal architecture.
"The ancient look will attract tourists who love to seeing the ancient of Lahore when they come here", sources said.
Coupled with the fact that old buildings had collapsed in Walled City during torrential rains the height restrictions could not be ignored besides Hashwani didn't want any arrangement to deprive the tourists of the sight of Badshahi that could vanish with any addition in the height of the structure.

http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/sep-2006/5/localnews1.php


Im juss wondering how they are going to squeeze in 400 rooms in a 3 kanal plot?? They cannot building more storeys like mentioned above due to building bye laws of that area which restrict designing of a building more than the orignal skyline of the area. And i think that is a good thing. If they will exceed the orginal skyline of the area, then the hotel wouldnt harmonize with the surrounding no matter how many local architectural elements it has.

Plus i need to know where exactly is this Pirzada haveli......the haveli itself should not be effected in any way meaning it should undergo restoration and a little bit of renovation but shouldnt loose the ambiance of lahori traditional architecture. The location would really decide whether the hotel is really building in a good place or in a mess. In one way it is a good act done by Hashwani to buy the old Haveli and renovate it to make a hotel. Most of go to lahore but havent visited all of the walled city. There a hundered of havelis over there belonging to sikhs, rajputs, hindus and existing for over 400yreas. But these building are under strong threat of decay and badly need restoration. Some are on their to conservation yet not all. Building a hotel would be a big uplift to this decaying part of the city. But on the other hand if the rest of the infrastructure is not maintained and upgraded like roads, sewage, clean water supply......the whole of the surrounding areas maybe effected due to increasing tourism over here.

As for the name of the hotel is concerned it should be not modern at all and stronlgly reflect our cutlure and heritage.

Well we can not help the fact that Heera Mandi is in such a good location. We all know about the existance of the place so why dont we shut them DOWN?!

If these ppl are finacially supported, given some respectable job and taken out of the web of problems of all types, i dont think they will continue with their slutty business again...!!
They are the low degraded and financially stuck ppl who have no other options. If they are given a better oppurtunity im sure they wont come back to what they were before.

There's nothing wrong with Heera Mandi. Why shut it down? If anything, it needs to be either legalized or the health and prosperity of the women somehow guaranteed.

^^^ what? and what about all the political influencial people that call girsl for mujra, and what about the police people that recieve 'hafta' from the pimps and frequent the call girls?

You must be kidding, right?
Why should we stop just because the corrupt stand in the way?

I will curb stomp those sons of bitches who allow such exploitation!

If these ppl are finacially supported, given some respectable job and taken out of the web of problems of all types, i dont think they will continue with their slutty business again...!!
They are the low degraded and financially stuck ppl who have no other options. If they are given a better oppurtunity im sure they wont come back to what they were before.
They definetly have other job oppurtunities like working as servents. There is a grave need for servents in Lahore and the Punjab right now because most have left for Karachi to earn a lot of money.

There's nothing wrong with Heera Mandi. Why shut it down? If anything, it needs to be either legalized or the health and prosperity of the women somehow guaranteed.
So we should legalize prostitution? Support prostitution by providing health and prosperity of the women?!!!! Jesus Christ! You people complain about a girl with a Bikini yet you think legalizing prostitution is ethical!

Great concept if he restores them to the original glory. Restored "riads" in Morocco have done wonders for tourism there.


You cant just shut down prostitution btw, people have tried it, and it never ever works. The more prostitutes you force out, the more village girls are forcefully brought in to replace the others... Its an awful cycle but society has to be changed for such actions to cease. No demand = no prostitution. Ban prostitutes (again?) = move further underground. Nor should the girls be demonized, having studied womens issues in Muslim countries, I can confidently say these women were forced/tricked into prostitution to appease a demand. It the worlds oldest profession, its not gonna be shut down in our lifetimes - fight it by decreasing the demand, not by attacking the prostitutes.

yes the more you take out the more come in, its impossible to clean prostituion

as long as there are men who want sex, girls will always be availble.

What in heaven's name have the above postings got to do with the subject matter!?!

Perhaps, you are not aware of the close proximity with a red light district.

They definetly have other job oppurtunities like working as servents. There is a grave need for servents in Lahore and the Punjab right now because most have left for Karachi to earn a lot of money.


Y do we need servants? Do we really need them? How would you feel being a servant?? Would you not look fer a respectable job than being a servant or a prostitute.......the point is again providing a respectable job oppurtunity to the ppl.....ppl workin around like servant tend to do so cauz they have no other job options.....!

Whats better? Being a prostitue or a servant?

COMPLETELY STUPID AND ABSURD. Why do we even discuss issues over which the whole humanity is convinced that its a menace. JUST PUT YOURSELF IN THE SHOES OF THOSE PROSTITUTES AND IMAGINE THEIR LIFE.
ps: UnitedPakistan, really nice to see u again

COMPLETELY STUPID AND ABSURD. Why do we even discuss issues over which the whole humanity is convinced that its a menace. JUST PUT YOURSELF IN THE SHOES OF THOSE PROSTITUTES AND IMAGINE THEIR LIFE.
ps: UnitedPakistan, really nice to see u again

I agree with you how can we imagine what they go through in life and choose this path...but this not we discussing in this thread anyway..

Yes its impossible to build 400 rooms alongwith official premises of a big hotel on 3 kanal

Any updates

does anyone have the idea about the location of this place.. as i have not been able to find any info on this...

behind the coocos den,
i saw it in july and they were still working on the foundations, the old havali was demolited.

oh.. I thought they were renovating the old building.. this means this one is going to take another 2 years minimum to construct keep the speed of cons. in pakistan..

here you can see pc hotel site, which is on the right side of cocos den, from nov 2006, seems like they just finsihed demolting the old buildings
http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/3226/pcdg0.jpg

I can't see anything. maybe u could point with a coloured dot?

demolished? gone? lost? :ohno:

I can't see anything. maybe u could point with a coloured dot?

yup that would be a good idea... if you can do that..!!

I don't know myself.Can't locate coco's den...... thats why i was asking :)