HERITAGE MUSEUM LASPUR
“It is very important that local communities initiate their own museums where they get a chance to tell their stories and narrate their own cultural landscapes” Zahra Hussain, Lead Architect & Curator Heritage Museum Laspur
Spinning Device, Circa 1800
The Museum: This museum displays the collection of historical artifacts collected by the owner, Mr Amirullah Yaftali who is a renowned Polo Player and former Captain of Laspur Polo team. In the past few decades, Mr Yaftali has collected over a hundred items of historical significance related to weaponry, the game Polo, pottery, tools and devices, apparel and items of everyday life usage. These items belong to the cultural heritage landscape of Laspur and surrounding valleys and act as a window into its past. Owner: Amirullah Yaftali Location: Harchin Village
Shandur Road, Laspur Valley, Upper Chitral, Khyber Pukhtoon Khwa, Pakistan
Main Door of the museum
Design: Architect & Curator Zahra Hussain and Architect Abdullah Aslam designed the museum and led the construction and curation. The building has been designed as an octagon around five columns, a recurrent architectural pattern found in traditional houses. The columns hold a strong spiritual significance known as ‘Punjetan’ for the resident Islamaili Community. Moreover, following the tradition of central skylights, the museum celebrates a central source for natural light. The door of the museum has been carefully designed to showcase locally woven textile and carved wood dating circa sixteenth century. Curation: In terms of the curation, Hussain worked closely with Mr. Amirullah Yaftali, who has collected these items with great passion and care. The artefacts are categorised, named and tagged with the instructions and stories by Mr Yaftali and assistance of other local people. The museum follows a flexible and open-layout and will continue to be populated.
Museum Interior, five columns from the Punjetan concept.
This Museum was established in 2018 with the support of SDC &AKRSP, and Design and Curation by Laajverd.