Friday 24 May 2013

Reimagining Karachi Goes Junkin'

Yesterday might have been one of the hottest days of the month but it was still not enough to keep some over ambitious ones indoors. So Reimagining Karachi set out for Jet Lines when the sun was at its peak. When we said Reimagining Karachi is a promise, it wasn't merely a claim. It is the promise of a better, more habitable, rejuvenated city, yet one must not overlook the baby steps or the stepping stones as a dear friend calls them. Exploration of the city, sharing trips and experiences and creating awareness are all part of it. Reimagining Karachi is also about experiencing, enjoying and sharing the simple joys that the city offers. And we believe that it is important to enable everyone to revert to supposedly ordinary things extraordinaire.
So off I went junkin'. Now it might be because of a certain project for which we are hunting for recycled furniture that I was so excited about my finds, or it could be because of a personal motto "Recycle, Reuse, Reduce" which has now turned into "Recycle, Reuse, Reimagine", thanks to a dear friend and colleague Talha.
My first stop was Punjab Chowrangi which has now become a hub of vintage furniture, and what treasures one finds there. Old mirror frames propped casually on the floor, lovely jharokas, pure Burma Teak wood consoles, beautifully carved vanities, tiny peerhis (low stools to sit on or perch artifacts), the list is endless. My special interest was in a pair of woven high-backed low chairs with an ethnic tile embedded in the back. Unfortunately, since it was ogled for personal use, the meagre amount left in my purse was not enough to acquire the gorgeous set. Off to another shop or rather the workshop where all the restoring and refinishing of vintage pieces takes place. Of all the pieces that I could have gone for, the one piece I insisted on buying was not for sale and was being used to prop pieces to polish. The blunt 'ye baichnay kay liye nahi hai' was not enough to dampen my spirits. The stubborn streak that I have in me, I kept insisting for a price which ofcourse turned out to be very steep. I wrinkled up my nose at the price, pretended there was no love lost and turned away, secretly trying to push back the one tear that threatened to roll down at the thought of the loss of a Burma Teak table. A long stretch of more shops with haphazard displays of carved treasures provided another delightful hour. 
My next destination was Jet Lines area. Despite its notoriety, it has its own appeal. The entire roadside is laden with wooden goodies. The pavements are chock full of vintage furniture quite in need of restoration yet oozing old world charm. A low wooden bench caught my eye, its most interesting feature being chunky metal rings on the sides. For a mere 1500 rupees it was quite a steal. But the lifelong habit of not buying anything on impulse compelled me to go back home and rethink it. A coffee table, all rickety, seemed very interesting. A potential piece of furniture, perfect for the lounging area was a great bargain. With just the base, all it required was a wooden top which could be done in plywood to cut down cost. Well, at least the base was teak. A perfect sized table that could be used as a conference table was rejected because I realized after careful examination that it was chipwood. No wonder it was for 4000 rupees and with constant haggling could have been brought down to even less. But chipwood! Not even for such a bargain would I go for chipwood. You wouldn't want the chunky table crumbling to pieces within months. 
A few more shops across the road and I was done, the rays of the sun now becoming unbearable but the trip quite fruitful.
Junking is not very common among the privileged. It is however an interesting option which leads to recycling wooden furniture. Not only is it beneficial environmentally but also shows a different side of Karachi. Jet Lines, Liaquat Market, Qayoomabad Main Market, Aram Bagh, Punjab Chowrangi and some parts of Nursery Market are just a few of the many one can explore. The intention might not be to buy vintage furniture but it sure encourages us to venture into discovering parts of the city we are not familiar with. 
I consider Karachi the land of wonders. People from rural areas come to earn a living, local tourists are attracted to the beach, it has the hustle and bustle that is common of a commercial hub, skyscrapers, malls, diverse ethnicities, tastebuds enticing cuisines, all contribute to its character. And that is not all, it also has quaint old neighbourhoods that one fails to notice in the fast-paced life that one leads today. Reimagining Karachi focuses on architectural heritage but at the same time has taken up the responsibility of taking everyone on a journey of exploration and discovery, re-introducing the flavour of Karachi. More on junking later!

The Burma Teak table that was not for sale

Many hidden treasures can be found in this disarray


The rickety table that I will restore to its former glory. Will post the pictures of the restored soon

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