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Edward House, Karachi
Edward House (Urdu: ایڈورڈ ہاؤس) is a building which is located in the Civil Lines area of Karachi, Pakistan[1] It was designed by the Iraqi-Jewish architect Moses Somake in 1910,[1] and named after Somake's son, Ellis Edward.[2] ArchitectureEdward House is made of local Gizri sandstone and limestone,[3] with ornamental molds.[4] Adjoining, there is another mansion known as Victoria Mansion,[5] which may have also been designed by Samoke given the similarity in style - although no records exist recording his work there.[6] UseIt used to house the Cafe Grand, operated by Herbert Bertie Cumper.[2] The cafe was frequented by Karachi's elite, including the founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and his sister Fatima Jinnah.[7] The building also housed the Stars Club - which was re-established in 2017 in the building.[8] Conservation The building is protected by the Sindh Cultural Preservation Act, 1994.[7] In 2012, renovation of the house was completed at the cost of Rs. 6 million, a rehabilitation and conservation project which started in 2010.[1] The restoration was criticized on the grounds that the Sindh Department of Antiquities awarded works to an inexperienced contractor who "over-restored" the building,[9] and chiseled away some original stone work in attempt to remove the patina which had formed on the building.[6] References
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