Mules Mansion | |
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![]() Mules Mansion in
Keamari, Karachi | |
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General information | |
Location | Keamari, Karachi |
Coordinates | 24°49′11″N 66°58′34″E / 24.819588°N 66.975994°E |
Year(s) built | 1917 |
Owner | Ministry 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]
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]
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]