Arrested development: The story of the cursed hall at Lahore’s Alhamra

Alhamra Arts Council, Lahore’s largest auditorium padlocked, once again

LAHORE:

How does one explain the frequent unavailability of the largest auditorium of Lahore’s most popular arts and cultural centre? Especially when that continues to happen for the second year in a row?

Hall 1, one of the three auditoriums at the facility, that has a seating capacity of 800 people has once again been boarded up for renovation after the ceiling recently collapsed, making it impossible for it to host any events for another six months.

Designed by renowned architect Nayyar Ali Dada, Alhamra Arts Council is a massive complex built using red bricks, based on a unique design inspired by Mughal architecture. Truly a sight to behold, Alhamra annually hosts a number of art and culture related events. However, the largest auditorium of the complex, Hall 1, has been experiencing tough luck for quite some time.



The hall was first closed for renovation when it was damaged by last year’s earthquake. According to Captain (retd) Atta Muhammad Khan, the council’s executive director, they had asked the government for Rs130 million to fund the repair work. The money arrived on time and everything from the roof to the furniture was fixed within three months. However, the contractor failed to produce a safety certificate, or any form of assurance guaranteeing durable work. Rain water continued to seep in, damaging furniture, décor and the impression of those who visited to attend events. Less than a year later, as expected, the ceiling of the ill-fated auditorium collapsed once again, temporarily halting plans of future events at the venue. It is pertinent to mention that this is the third time the ceiling has collapsed, with a similar incident having occurred nearly four years ago.

“The safety of people who visit the auditorium is our primary concern. Following incidents involving the collapse of the hall’s roof, we have postponed all events until further notice,” said Muhammad, adding, “We have invited engineers from Pakistan Engineering Council, Punjab government’s construction experts and architects to assess the situation and take the necessary restorative measures. We’re hopeful that the renovation will be completed within the next 45 days, allowing us to once again open our doors for various cultural events.”

He further added that it is highly unfortunate that the 800 chairs that were installed just last year will once again have to be replaced, despite the fact that the administration made all efforts to protect them. One can only wonder how a staggering sum of Rs130 million was insufficient to carry out durable repairs following the earthquake.

“Due to the closure of hall, the council is facing financial issues as this hall’s income is vital for running operations at the facility,” another Alhamra official said. He also added that event organisers are now reluctant to hold events at the council due to safety concerns. “People have begun to question the administration and the use of government funding making the situation even worse,” he said on the condition of anonymity.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 7^th, 2016.

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