2 minute read
ROOF-TOP CULTURE
ROOF-HOPPERS
Within the congested urban fabric of Old Lahore, rooftops play an integral role in the lives of the residents. Kite-flying has been an important leisure activity for the youth of the city. Intoxicated by the floating kites, and the urge to capture a falling one lost in a duel, young boys fluidly jump from rooftop to rooftop. The buildings are close together but the fall between them is steep. However, the adventureseeking youth casually hops around their neighbor’s rooftops to meet friends, catch a falling kite, or glance at their crushes.
Advertisement
I wonder if connecting the rooftops between houses through bridges would convenience them?
HANGING LAUNDRY, DRYING SPICES, AND HOLLERING CONVERSATIONS
The activity on the rooftops is not limited to kite flying. A woman sits on the roof of her house, picking stones out of lentils, while her neighbor on the left is hanging wet laundry. Another woman is drying spices under the sun while one just came to the scene to be a part of the group. These women holler at each other, sharing pleasantries, stories, recipes, and tattles while carrying out their household activities.
Would merging the scattered rooftops into one big surface allow them to form a stronger bond? Would they sit together on one charpoy while running errands?
SLEEPING CONSTELLATIONS
Sleeping under the stars is a romantic notion, which is not uncommon for the residents of the Walled City. When small rooms shared by multiple family members get too uncomfortable for warm summer nights, people often sleep on their rooftops. The charpoys, with sleeping residents dotting the roofs across the neighborhoods, form constellations of their own.
LIVING ROOFTOPS
Rooftops in the Walled City house a variety of diverse activities. Perhaps, sustainable roof design would provide the locals with a more welcoming environment to carry out their daily activities. Living rooftops would not only drop the temperatures within the building but also allow a comfortable slumber under the star-studded summer night sky. Furthermore, innovative design solutions like green roofs provide an oasis for the community, simultaneously balancing out the negative effects of climate change on the building stock (Harvey and Perry 2015).
