Habib Fida Ali established the practice in 1965 as a sole proprietor. Prior to this he worked for William Perry following his graduation from the Architectural Association School of Architecture, London, UK Born in 1936, Habib Fida Ali is a Pakistani national. He holds membership to Association of Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) and Pakistan Council of Architects and Town Planners (PCATP) He travels extensively and has taught in Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture and NED University.His work was recognized by Institute of Architects Pakistan (IAP) who honored him with the lifetime achievement award. His involvement in project extends from strategic planning, through concept design and construction administration.A commitment to design, quality, innovation and delivery is illustrated in his complete projects. Quality of design is of paramount importance to him and he continues to strive to provide clients with buildings of excellence.

Design Philosophy

The design philosophy of the firm has remained unchanged over the past 49+ years. LESS IS MORE has been the guiding principle for our work. This strong belief in how design should evolve has sustained us, given direction to our architecture and withstood the test of time.Design excellence and problem solving are at the heart of everything we do. We promote creativity with a disciplined design process that assesses, analyzes and synthesizes a project’s issues and objectives.
Our design philosophy consists of three principles:
Timelessness: Architecture transcends fashion and should never lose its appeal. We believe that good design fashion is truly innovative, highly sensible, yet a source of inspiration to those who have the pleasure of living with it.

Simplicity: Is a dominant theme in execution and design. We believe in simplicity and minimalism and that form and function should be in synthesis and incorporate innovative ideas in terms of concept, design and materials. Our detailing is deliberately sparse and linear in order to enhance the spaces within and without. Detailing is at the heart of our work. It is said that good detailing should never show the agony it took to produce it, but should appear as if it had not been detailed at all.

Functionality: For us, design is not an abstract exercise in combining shapes, forms and materials. Our design methodology focuses on an inner application of design values following the philosophy of minimalist spacing that creates rectangularity, proportional equilibrium of scale, texture and composition and undisguised use of modern materials such as concrete, to create imaginative yet efficient architectural environments. In addition to aesthetic expression, program requirements, structure and economy of construction serve as joint determinants of planning and detailing in all our projects.

Affiliations

National Vice President of the Institute of Architects, Pakistan (IAP)
* Chairman IAP, Institute of Architects, Pakistan Karachi Chapter
* Nominated on the Pakistan Council of Architects & Town Planners (PCATP) on its inception
* Member of Syndicate of the NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi
* Member, Master Jury, Aga Khan Award for Architecture, 1983
* Member, Associate Royal Institute of British Architects ARIBA
* Founding Member of Institute of Interior Design

Honors & Distinctions

Honorary Architect, Darul Falah Welfare Home Project, Karachi
* One of 10 selected Architects, chosen from all over the world to be invited by the US Government on a tour of sites of Architectural interest in USA
* Elected to the Council of the International Union of Architects (U.I.A.)
* Nominator for the Aga Khan Award for Architecture 1986
* Keynote speaker at the forum 2001 at Sri Lankan Institute of Architects, Colombo Sri Lanka to speak on his Fair Face Concrete Buildings.
* Karachi conformance of Building & Material Exhibition My Architects – Our Architecture IAPEX 2004

Publications

The Architecture of Habib Fida Ali – 2010
* Architectural Digest January 1981 Issue
* Architectural Digest (Italian Edition) August 1984 Issue
* MIMAR Architecture in Development – Issue 6 1982
* MIMAR Architecture in Development – Issue 9 1983
MIMAR Architecture in Development – Issue 37 1991

Source: www.habibfidaali.com