Rabeeya Suhail Arif

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) – Cambridge, United States Present SMArchS - Master of Science in Architecture Studies

Beaconhouse National University (BNU), Lahore, Pakistan June 2015 BArch - Bachelors of Architecture

Al Hussan International School June 2009

GCE A levels (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) Email Address: [email protected] [email protected] Al Hussan International School June 2007 Cambridge IGCSE Tel: (Math, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Information Technology, English, Urdu) #+1 6464200591

Current Mailing Address: PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 235 Albany Street, Ashdown House, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | Jan 2019 – Present Apt#5104B Masters Dissertation Studying informality and the adaptive re-use of heritage spaces to derive alternate forms of preservation.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | Aug 2018 – Present Urban Planning Practicum Working with the World Bank and OPISU to re-integrate the informal settlements of Buenos Aires, Argentina into the formal city. As well as challenging traditional perspectives of Urban Informality. I am working with a group to stabilize and diversify the Informal economies and Livelihoods of the city.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | Dec 2018 – Present Research Assistant Research Assistantship continuing with Professor James L. Wescoat Jr. Working on urban revitalization of the historic walled city of Lahore, Pakistan. Applying Quality of Life Conservation impact assessments to the walled city neighborhoods.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | Dec 2017 – Present Course Group Project Utilized AR/VR and Unity to create an interactive project called the Tatami Game. Firstly, using photogrammetry to capture the historic temples in Kyoto, Japan. This project aims to fuse these two methods of collecting and sharing by providing an augmented visualization of historical interiors, allowing for an immersive revisiting of the location. The project also serves as a platform for expanding one’s knowledge about tatami mat configurations in Kyoto interiors.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | Jul 2017 – Dec 2017 Research Assistant Research Assistantship continuing with Professor James L. Wescoat Jr. Working with the Water Informatics and Technology Lab in LUMS on the Indus Basin water project. Appling concepts of ancient water technology to solve re-distribution problems in the Indus Basin.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | Sep 2017 – May 2018 Research Assistant Research Assistantship with Professor James L. Wescoat Jr. Work on disaster resilient design of rural villages in Central Asia. Visualizing the Aga Khan Development Network’s Quality of Life Assessments on existing and changing conditions in the Gorno-Badakhshan region of Tajikistan. With specific emphasis on villages in the rural areas, outlining issues such as factors in which there are improvements of or degradation of the built environment as well as changes in female access to education and opportunities.

Aga Khan Cultural Service Pakistan (AKCSP) | Dec 2015 – Aug 2017 Project Architect

Lahore Fort Digital Documentation Project | Jun 2016 – Aug 2017 Digitally documenting the Lahore Fort complex. Continuing the Picture Wall North Façade documentation and Geometric Pattern Analysis of the patterns on the Northern Side of the Wall. Utilizing Lidar to accurately capture in high detail fort buildings including The Royal Kitchens. Upkeep of work progress and compilation of progress report.

Baltit Fort Lidar | Oct 2016 Utilizing LIDAR, 3D- laser scanned the Baltit Fort for purpose of architectural documentation, conservation, and historical record. This is an 800-year-old ancient fort on top of a mountain in the Hunza Valley, Northern Pakistan. Whilst training local women from the neighboring villages in technical survey skills of Lidar.

Picture Wall Documentation, Presentation and Promotion | Mar 2016 – Jul 2015 This pilot project of the western section of the Picture Wall involved the documentation of the UNESCO world heritage site for further conservation and historic preservation. Worked on the Identification and historical analysis of the Islamic geometric patterns on the Picture Wall, Western section, developed an inventory and wrote a paper on the study. Documented the world heritage site using Lidar, EDM machines and photo-rectification. Compiled, edited and wrote content for the Picture Wall project final completion report

Wazir Khan Chowk Conservation and Rehabilitation Project | Dec 2015-Mar2016 This project involved the rehabilitation of the historic Mughal period public square. Worked on the architectural documentation of the East façade hujras of the mosque utilizing EDM technology and Ortho photo rectification techniques to derive architectural drawings such as plans, sections and elevations. Designed water drainage system, including the catch pits and soakage well, for proper rainwater disposal whilst supervising archaeological excavations within the ancient site.

Sustainable Development of Walled City Lahore Project (SDWCLP) | Jun-Aug 2012 Intern Architect Revitalization of a historic urban city, including improving infrastructure and access to basic urban services.

ACADEMIC ARCHITECTURE PROJECTS:

THESIS PROJECT:

Sanctuary of Thought: Revealing the Palimpsest - Travelling Back to the Origin | Nov 2014 An Archaeological museum / place of gathering and intellectual discourse on the site of the neglected ruins of the Royal Kitchens in the Lahore Fort. The project is a manifold architectural intervention that is revitalizing and rehabilitating the historic valuable site, conserving the royal kitchen site. Revealing the hidden layers of sediment and providing shelter for the archaeological remains.

Water Temple Hotel: Katas Raj tourism Development | Jun 2013 Site of the ancient Hindu heritage temple complex of katas raj with a sacred body of water. The hotel is on the basis of an experiential spiritual discovery using water as the main diversifying quality. Water is given divine attributes so as form a sequential narrative in the visual sensory illustration of a spiritual pilgrimage, especially in regard of and inspired by the sacred site.

Urbanism Project | Jun 2012

Designing a vocational institute and workshop for woodcraft within a leftover piece of triangular land. To create a suitable intervention to reinject invigorating qualities into the urban landscape.

Mubarik Centre Project | Dec2011 Political changes in government and poor governance resulted in an abandoned large-scale project called the Mubarik Centre, leaving a 60 ft. deep ditch in Lahore. Utilizing this leftover space and designing a subterranean learning institute that fills this leftover site. Incorporating a public welfare park on the roof for the citizens of Garden Town, all whilst following sustainable design rules to have a zero carbon footprint.

Data Durbar Project | Oct 2011 Learning the significance of cultural heritage and collective memory. Redesigning the market east of Data Durbar, a sacred Sufi shrine of a renowned Sufi saint, to honor memory and culture and preserve heritage.

Infill House Project | Jun 2011 Designing an Infill House with a very narrow site of 24 feet width. Designed for an Antiquarian who conserved the letters of the famous writer Virginia Woolf. Creating a dwelling for the letters of Virginia Woolf, embodying qualities from the life and books of the writer.

PUBLICATIONS

R. Arif and K. Essa. Evolving Techniques of Documentation of a World Heritage Site in Lahore. Published in: International Archive Photogrammetry Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences., XLII-2/W5, 33-40

SKILLS

Lidar, AutoCAD, Sketch up, Autodesk 3ds Max, Revit, ArcGIS, Unity, Electronic Distance Measuring, Ortho photo-rectification, Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint. Drawing and drafting, architectural construction drawings, architecture research, creative writing skills and photography.

VOLUNTEERING AND EXPERIENCE

Membership Chair of Graduate Women at MIT (GWAMIT) Training Ciqam team of underprivileged woman in the rural Hunza in Lidar technology Juror at the final undergraduate thesis jury for Bachelors of Architecture, BNU – Beaconhouse National University 2010 ARCASIA conference (Architects Regional Council, Asia) in Lahore, Pakistan

HONOURS AND AWARDS

Institute of Architects Pakistan - Graduate Award for Best Thesis 2015, Gold Medal Graduated with Distinction Deans Honour List 2015, 2013 and 2009 Honour roll throughout high school years

INTERESTS

Urbanism, urban policy, urban development, technology, Lidar, AR/VR, historic preservation, history, heritage architecture, photography, philosophy, biology, gender and women’s studies, comparative religion, literature, research, cycling, swimming.