Since 1979, a studio module was introduced in the final
year studies of Bachelor of Architecture programme
at the Dawood College of Engineering and
Technology, Karachi which was the only architecture
school in the city at that time. A key objective of
this studio module was to sensitize the ‘architects
in making’ about context of the built environment,
the process through which it was shaped and the
forces that contributed in its shaping. The students
were assigned to study a micro urban area for indepth
investigation and analysis. At the conclusion,
analytical presentations followed that also included
basic proposals for addressing problems that were
identified in the studio exercise. Begun in Dawood
College, the studio was adopted by many schools
of architecture in the country including the NED
University, Karachi. This studio had multiple impacts.
Understanding the realities behind creation of urban
built environment, realization of multiple roles for
professional contribution to ongoing metamorphosis
and appreciation of diverse fields of studies within the
domain of architectural education and practice were
some of the vital aspects. The objectives of this paper
are to document the evolution and process of CED
studio work. The paper also aims to study the affects
of CED work on the perception, understandings and
professional orientation of architects who graduated
from the schools where CED studio was conducted.