Sadiq & Polack

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Who We Are

Sadiq and Polack is a multi-cultural practice run by Christophe Polack & Asiya Sadiq who bring their diverse backgrounds, experiences, and cultural perspectives together that are reflected in their interdisciplinary work. Their inclusive and engaged practice is a conscious attempt at connecting their Design Projects, Research & Academics into one vision. The flexible and innovative nature of the practice promotes affordable and out of the box solutions.

The couple in their respective contexts (Karachi and Brussels) realized very early on in their careers that they did not want a conventional practice path. Once together, this became a common goal and along with their collaborators, they have been involved in projects that go beyond the conventional building practice and push professional boundaries. They encourage the enthusiasm of their team interfacing it with their experience resulting in exciting, innovative, and new ideas.

Their three-pronged practice has interlinked design, research, and academics, propagating socially responsive and inclusive architecture. They aspire for and promote socially resilient projects engaging; ecology, history, social and cultural diversity, local identities, and their inherent formal/informal interfaces. Documenting and promoting inclusive and resilient public space making is an essential part of their practice via stakeholder’s engagement resulting in the co-creation of knowledge that is conscientiously shared with their team, peers, students and the profession and society at large.

Christophe & Asiya are a prime example of how to extend the multiple roles of an architect, ranging from, a design process facilitator, an advocate of the community to an archiver and a bridge between the formal and informal stakeholders of a design process. They envision the propagation of their practice model via their practice and teaching in collaboration with peers, students, and other professionals.

Currently, their work is dealing with contemporary design issues faced by diverse cultures and communities residing in hyper transforming contexts in Europe and South Asia. Projects promoting multi-disciplinary, involvement of clients as a part of the design process, formal and informal interface and the making of contemporary socially sustainable architecture and public spaces are the focus of their work.

Competitions and Awards
  • Grant Winner – One of the Six Heritage Restoration Projects ‘Khalikdina Hall and Library – The Reading Room Series’ – Funded by CPF-UK – Executed in partnership with the NGO Numaish Karachi, in collaboration with KMC, and the British Council Karachi – 2024
  • Winners – Architecture Category: Competition Project – “A Place for All” – ADA Awards – Pakistan – 2023.
  • Winners – “BEST OF THE BEST AWARD” for the category of ‘Reimagining Public Spaces and Built Environment’ in Reimagining Architecture and Urbanism in the Post-pandemic World – for the University of Alberta – Canada – 2022
  • Top 20 Entries – ‘Places to Respire’ in Reimagining Architecture and Urbanism in the Post-pandemic World – for the University of Alberta – Canada – 2022
  • Honourable Mention – Competition Project for the “Design of the Belgian Pavilion at the Biennale Architectura” for the Vlaams Architectuur Instituut – Belgium – 2020.
  • Winners – Competition Project for “Creating a Multi-Cultural Space for Immigrant Youth” for the Municipality of Hoeilaart – Belgium – 2013.
  • Honourable Mention – Competition Project for the “Pedestrianization of Boulevard Anspach in Brussels” for the NGO BRAL – Belgium – 2013.
  • Honourable Mention – Competition Project for the “Revitalization of the Degraded Areas of Vauxhall in London” for the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) – UK – 2013.
  • Invited Speaker – International Cornerstone Conference, “Art Transforming the World” organized by the International Women Forum (IWF) – Rome – 2011.
  • Honourable Mention – Competition Project for “Fez Historic Core Redevelopment” for the Government of Morocco – 2010.
  • Invited Participant – “The Rising Tide – A New Direction in Art and Architecture from Pakistan – 1990 to 2010”curated by Naiza Khan for the Mohatta Palace Museum – 2010.
  • Invited Presenters – IAPEX conference; “The Generation Next” organized by the Institute of Architects – Karachi – 2010.
  • Honourable Mention – “IAP House Design in Karachi” organized by the Institute of Architects, Karachi – 2008.
  • Invited Presenters – IAPEX conference “Avant Garde Practices in Pakistan” organized by the Institute of Architects, Karachi – 2008.
  • Winners – Urban Design Competition, “Hussainabad Neighbourhood Park – Karachi” organized by the Institute of Architects, Karachi – 2006.
  • Self-Initiated – “Earthquake Rehabilitation Project – 2005”, for Balakot – Northern Pakistan – Dec 2005. This project was replicated by NGOs, some communities and drew media attention.
Asiya

Asiya Sadiq

Managing Partner

Asiya Sadiq is an architect-urbanist-academic, currently a PhD scholar and visiting professor at the International Masters Programme of the Faculty of Architecture, KU Leuven, campus Ghent and Brussels. She has been an Associate Professor at the Department of Architecture and Planning, NED University Karachi 2000 – 2021. Her professional practice (2000 to date) in partnership with architect Christophe Polack aspires for and promotes socially resilient projects engaging; ecology, history, social and cultural diversity, local identities, and their inherent formal/informal interfaces. Documenting and promoting inclusive, engaged, and democratic public space making is an essential part of their practice in which; research, academics, and stakeholder’s participation result in the co-creation of knowledge that is shared with the students, peers, and the profession at large.

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Christophe Polack

Managing Partner

Christophe Polack is an architect–urbanist-academic with a keen interest in socio-spatial research, designing, theorizing and architectural education. He has two masters’ degrees: Master of Science in Spatial and Urban Planning from University of Gent and Master of Architecture in Human Settlements Design from PGCHS – K.U. Leuven, Belgium. He has lived and worked in Belgium and Pakistan and has a deep insight into both the contexts and their design challenges. Amalgamating indoor, outdoor and in between spaces for “Cities, Citizens and Spaces” forms the backbone of his designs. He is currently running his own practice with partner Asiya Sadiq in Belgium and is a visiting lecturer at the International Masters Programme of the Faculty of Architecture, KU Leuven, campus Ghent and Brussels.

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Christophe

Hira Rehman

Assistant Architect

Hira Rehman graduated as an architect from DUET (Karachi – Pakistan). She is an enthusiastic, motivated, and hard-working young architect. Once introduced to the multidisciplinary design approach of SAP, she has developed an interest in amalgamating design and research for creating “Cross-Cultural” design projects. She has an interest in graphic design which has been very useful in developing the new website and other projects. She is interested in the design process, design execution and subsequent learning, an attitude that adds value to her work and team spirit.

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Sana Akhtar

Assistant Architect

Sana Akhtar graduated as an architect from DUET (Karachi – Pakistan). She is also a self-taught artist who seeks to retain her profession of architecture by conceptualizing Designs as Artwork. She joined Sadiq And Polack architects as a young architect. She is currently working on residential and public architectural projects and assisting in research and graphics work, which has been very useful in developing the new website for SAP architects. She is always up to learning something new and is eager to participate in future projects with her amazing mentors and team members.

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Sana

Ramsha Taufiq

Assistant Architect

Ramsha Taufiq graduated as an architect from DUET, Karachi in 2019. She is a thoughtful and creative architect who with an interest in researching and designing innovative projects. Her graphical skills, creativity and adaptability adds value to the SAP team.

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Former SAP Team Members

Farhan Ud Din

Farhan Uddin Shaikh

Civil Engineer - BIM expert

Muhammad Tayyab

Junior Architect

Abbas Khan

Junior Architect

Muhammad Tayyab

Junior Architect

Abbas Khan

Junior Architect

Advisors

Architect/ Planner Arif Hasan – Chairperson Urban Resource Center, Karachi

Prof. Han Verschure – Professor Emeritus, KU Leuven

Collaborators

Timeline Consultants/Project Management , Islamabad

Timeline Designs, Islamabad

Engineers

Multis – BVBA

Pieter Slock – GCV

Egeon – BVBA

Bureau De Fonseca – BVBA

Cositek – SPRL

Studiebureau ESK – BVBA

Networks

Chhaaon, Karachi – A citizen’s forum for public space making in Karachi.

Urban Resource Center, Karachi – A nonprofit advocacy & research organization.

Selavip, Brussels – A private foundation supporting housing projects for the poor globally.

Department of Architecture & Planning – NED University of Engineering & Technology.

Department of Architecture & Planning – Dawood University of Engineering & Technology.

Faculty of Architecture – Katholieke Universiteit Leuven – Campus Brussels and Ghent.

Naiza Khan – Internationally renowned artist based in the UK and Pakistan.

Durriya Kazi – Artist & Founder/Former Head of Visual Arts Department, Karachi University.

Monali Meher – Internationally renowned artist based in Belgium.

Vincent Strebelle – Artist & Sculptor based in Belgium.

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Jean Michel

1972-2011 – Les Architectes Polak

Jean-Michel Polak ( Belgium, 12 June 1943 ) did his internship with renowned Mexican Architect, Ricardo Legoretta and later managed Les Architectes Polak together with his father and uncle.

He designed an important Home for elderly people in Brussels, Government buildings School Complexes, Office buildings and Industrial buildings, all over Belgium.

He has compiled and published his sketches of pre-Columbian art and monuments of Mexico and Brussels and is currently writing a book on the history of “Les Architectes Polak”. He is still actively advising his son Christophe Polack on design and management issues arising in the present architectural practice, “The Architects Polak” and the new “Sadiq and Polack”

Andre

1945-2008 - Les Architectes Polak

André Polak ( Switzerland, 19 January 1914 – Hoeilaart, April 2, 1988 ) and Jean Polak (Switzerland, 13 June 1920 – Uccle 16 February 2012) took over their fathers’ practice and expanded it by getting involved in the massive real estate developments in Brussels after the Second World War.

They actively participated in the transformation of Brussels. Qualitative by default, their conception of office complexes, residential and commercial apartments have been impressive. In the 1970’s, André Polak’s son Jean-Michel Polak also joined the office as an architect.

The most important and monumental building of their time in Les Architectes Polak done in collaboration with civil engineer Andre Waterkyn is the monument called “ATOMIUM” in Brussels. Built as a part of the 1958 Expo held in Brussels. This building has become the emblem of modern Brussels and the architectural pride of Belgium.

Other important landmark buildings include the CERIA Campus in Brussels (1948), The national bank of Congo (1950), The office building for A.G.(1956), The Generali tower in Brussels (1966).

Michel

1922-1945 - Les Architectes Polak

Michel Polak ( Mexico, January 27, 1885 – Brussels, October 4, 1948) was an architect of Swiss origin. From 1921 onwards he lived in Belgium, where he received important commissions.

After obtaining his title of architect at the Polytechnic School of Zurich (1903-1907) he attended classes at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris between 1907 and 1911. 1917 onwards he worked with the Swiss architect Alfred Hoch.

He settled five years later in Brussels on the invitation of the businessman in real estate and financier Lucien Kaisin and started his practice called Les Architectes Polak. He was given the commission of building, a complex of luxury apartments called “Residence Palace“ in Brussels.

Michel Polak is well known for his Art Deco buildings of the interwar period in Brussels. He mastered many architectural styles and could also combine flawlessly art deco, classicism, and modernism. He had a large knowledge of materials and could apply it well in his designs. His projects are considered an important part of the architectural heritage of Brussels. After the Second World War, his architecture practice Les Architectes Polak was continued by his two sons, André, and Jean Polak.

Asiya

2021 onwards – Sadiq and Polack Architects

Practicing in Belgium for the last 8 years has brought forward a new multicultural identity for the practice. Capitalizing on the diverse backgrounds and expertise of the duo the practice is taking a new shape in the form of “Sadiq and Polack Architects” and aspires to reach out to a wider audience globally.

The transformations experienced in the last 100 years are logically taking a new turn to address contemporary issues pertaining to cities. These range from situating the practice in the middle scale amalgamating architecture and its larger contextual realities addressing design issues like, sustainability, climate change, emerging architectural and urban design typologies, post-pandemic habitats and creation of alternative practice models.

Asiya

2000 - 2020 – The Architects Polack

Christophe Polack (Belgium, 08 October 1972) started his architectural practice with Les Architectes Polak in Brussels in 1997. In the year 2000, he got married to Asiya Sadiq and moved to Karachi – Pakistan where they started a sister practice called “The Architects Polack”. After practicing in Pakistan and the region for 12 years, he moved backed to Belgium and has continued with the practice.