Riffs and Roads: A Jazz Travelogue

Nestled against the serene Margalla Hills, Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan, is a testament to architectural sophistication and a monument to visionary urban planning. Unlike the congested metropolises that characterize much of South Asia, Islamabad is spacious, organized, and remarkably verdant. Its architecture is a fascinating blend of Islamic tradition and contemporary design, each structure telling its own story of cultural heritage meshed with modern-day aspirations. The Master Plan – A City Divided into Sectors Islamabad’s unique layout is based on the master plan designed by Greek architect Constantinos Apostolou Doxiadis. The city is divided into sectors, each marked with its own alphanumeric code, ensuring an order rarely seen in the traditionally organically developed cities of the region. This planned segmentation not only facilitates easy navigation but also helps maintain an extraordinary level of cleanliness and order. The Faisal Mosque – A Contemporary Wonder No ...

In the heart of Pakistan lies a city that embodies the aspirations of a young nation and the grandeur of modern urban planning. Islamabad, the country’s capital, is a testament to the vision of its founders and a beacon of architectural innovation and environmental consciousness. Unlike the historical grandiosity of Lahore or the bustling commerce of Karachi, Islamabad is a city where each boulevard tells a story of thoughtful design, and every sector speaks of cleanliness and order. The city’s origin story begins with a vision that was as much a geopolitical move as it was an aesthetic and practical one. In the early 1960s, the Pakistani government decided to move the capital from the coastal city of Karachi to a more central location.  This decision was strategic but also represented a desire to craft a capital that was purpose-built, reflecting the modern identity of Pakistan.  Greek architect Constantinos Apostolou Doxiadis was commissioned to bring this vision to life, an...