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Mules Mansion
Mules Mansion in Keamari, Karachi
Map
General information
LocationKeamari, Karachi
Coordinates24°49′11″N 66°58′34″E / 24.819588°N 66.975994°E / 24.819588; 66.975994
Year(s) built1917
OwnerMinistry of Defense
Design and construction
Architect(s)Moses Somake

Mules Mansion is a historic mansion owned by the Ministry of Defense (MoD) under the management of Naval Secretariat in Karachi, Pakistan.[1][2] It was built in Anglo-Oriental style in 1917 by Moses Somake. The mansion is named after Horace Charles Mules, the first chairman of the Karachi Port Trust.[3]

History[edit]

Mules Mansion was founded during the Victoria era.[4] The construction of the mansion began in 1885 using rugged stonemasonry and was completed in 1917.[4][5][6] The building was designed by Jewish architect, Moses Somake, and was named after Horace Charles Mules, the first chairman of the Karachi Port Trust.[5]

The mansion was originally designed to serve both maritime and residential purposes.[4] The ground floor housed warehouses and workshops related to maritime activities, while the upper floors provided accommodation for sailors and featured a British-style pub for their leisure.[4] After the Partition of India, the building temporarily served as the Naval Headquarters and later had various uses, including residential.[5] The sailor's hostel and bar were converted into residential flats, providing a home for many migrating families, including that of Pirzada Qasim, a poet and academic.[4] In the 1970s, some writers resided there.[5]

Architecture[edit]

Mules Mansion is a complex of eight three-story buildings arranged in a rectangular layout.[4][7] Each building is structurally independent but interconnected with the others.[4] The buildings face different directions and surround an accessible field, which can be entered from the north side.[4] In the 1990s, one of the buildings was demolished due to safety concerns.[4]

A notable feature of the mansion is the crown-shaped observatory located on the southern side.[4] The observatory served as a vantage point for the original owners, who were involved in the shipping industry, to monitor incoming ships.[4] However, over time, the observatory and other parts of the mansion have fallen into disrepair due to neglect.[4] The Victorian iron staircases, red clay-tiled roof, and some balconies have suffered damage, and the exterior has been affected by environmental factors and pollution.[4]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Welle, Deutsche (August 5, 2023). "Pakistan: What's left of Jewish architecture in Karachi?". Frontline.
  2. ^ Khan, Abid (November 6, 2022). "SHC orders inspection of historical Mules Mansion building through".
  3. ^ Newspaper, the (May 22, 2011). "Somake`s Karachi". DAWN.COM.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "میولز مینشن کراچی برطانوی نوآبادیاتی فن تعمیر کا جوہر یگانہ | Daily Jasarat News". April 28, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d "Mules Mansions, Karachi". heritage.eftsindh.com.
  6. ^ "Karachi's Lost Jews".
  7. ^ "Mules Mansion Keamari".
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mules_Mansion

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