Sadiq & Polack

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
  • 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.
  • Honourable Mention – Competition Project for “Fez Historic Core Redevelopment” for the Government of Morocco – 2010.
  • Invited Speaker – International Cornerstone Conference, “Art Transforming the World” organized by the International Women Forum (IWF) – Rome – 2011.
  • 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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