Studio Subtractive

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Studio Subtractive we are an interdisciplinary studio that provides architecture and environmental design solutions In a place of worship? On the street? In a public park?

Imagine a perfect balance in life that bonds our culture and religion, social behaviors and practices with the unfussiness of modernity. We would all be content within the physical boundaries of our realm. As a developing country we find many facets of “norms” within the various strata’s of society. But where does one find the pre-eminent median of a human experience – where “it’s all good”. As a captive audience within the confines of an airplane? Can design of a product, environment or a building dictate a response in a public sphere? Can design change the environment? Incidentally many elements of our daily lives transcend physical man made borders. Information, fashion, music, cars, cosmetics to architectural styles, craft and materials all find place within our urban fabric. But to what broader consequence than what is visible. Can we afford to lavishly presume overseas manufactured products and lifestyles to take inception into our lives, our social and economic parameters without due diligence? Beauty only runs skin deep and so what makes anything look beautiful can only be meaningful if it responds to the environment around it, morphing it to an evolved state. At Studio Subtractive our work for replica watches strives to make objects and environments look beautiful and meaningful. A meaningful solution has a larger impact than one that is borrowed and applied. Anything beautiful and meaningful requires to be manufactured, the parameters of which are vast and complex. Ranging from capital investment, production, distribution, demand/viability and quality to ecology. A perfect balance for product or spatial development requires conscientious design and fabrication ideals. Our lives are dependent on the attitude of design. From appliances to cars, homes to clothes we are all critical of what makes a good design. As creative problem solvers our vision delves into the realm of providing design solutions from the micro to the macro, for any function or medium and in any context.

We are delighted to unveil a recently completed workspace in Karachi for a leading multinational organisation. Designed ...
27/07/2026

We are delighted to unveil a recently completed workspace in Karachi for a leading multinational organisation. Designed around modernity, sustainability, and employee wellbeing, the project has achieved USGBC LEED Gold certification. Expansive floor-to-ceiling windows bring in abundant natural light and sweeping sea views, while a custom acoustic ceiling, micro-perforated wall panels, and suspended circular clouds enhance both sound performance and visual character.

LEED® Gold, ID+C certified 2025
- Pathway: Commercial Interiors
- Certified by GBCI under the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED program

Sustainability Features:
- Indoor water use cut by around half compared with a typical office fit-out
- Quality outdoor views from almost every workstation
- Enhanced air filtration with an increased supply of fresh air
- Designed and reviewed for indoor air quality and infection control
- Fully LED lighting with advanced energy metering
- More than a third of materials by value responsibly sourced
- Construction waste diverted from landfill during the build
- Dense, transit-rich location with a reduced parking footprint
- Long-term occupancy commitment of more than ten years

We are grateful to Savills Pakistan, to have invited us for this collaboration
Interior Design:
Acoustics: Laura Churchyard
MEP: SEM + Eleken
LEED Consultant: SIDE Works Private Limited
General Contractor: IK ASSOCIATES

💕 awesome 👍
22/05/2026

💕 awesome 👍

04/03/2026

Suspended within the dense canopy of pine and conifers, this prototype hospitality design introduces a series of prefabricated laterally conjoined pods in an alpine setting inspired by a treehouse

Each guest room is strategically positioned to frame breathtaking panoramic vistas of the valley beyond, offering an immersive connection to the surrounding landscape

Raised on slender pilotis, the archetype minimizes ground contact and site disturbance, preserving the pristine greenfield below while allowing natural airflow, vegetation and wildlife movement beneath. This lightweight, modular approach ensures low environmental impact, rapid assembly / expansion and seamless integration with the rugged mountain terrain—redefining sustainable alpine accommodation as a harmonious extension of nature itself

Perched in Pakistan’s rugged highlands—where the Karakoram, Himalayan and Hindu Kush ranges meet—this hospitality projec...
02/03/2026

Perched in Pakistan’s rugged highlands—where the Karakoram, Himalayan and Hindu Kush ranges meet—this hospitality project responds thoughtfully to its dramatic topography. The design rationalizes site-specific conditions: steep topography, challenging access, sweeping vistas, natural resources, and the imperative for sustainability. These forces shape a functional eco-sensitive solution that transforms a pristine site into human-scaled experiences amid towering peaks.

Developed by Studio Subtractive as a prototypical exploration of contemporary hospitality in extreme alpine settings, the project tests bold innovative theories in hybrid modular construction. Through strategic stacking and horizontal expansion, the architecture achieves a striking visual presence—compact yet allows for expansive—that feels both integrated into the landscape and yet distinct.

Guests embark on a curated spatial journey with cafés, amphitheater and event spaces leveraging built acoustics, secluded quiet zones for solitude, and guest rooms with panoramic views that can interconnect for larger groups. This diversity lets visitors choose their ideal vantage—the perfect “seat in the house”—guided by time of day, mood, or shifting mountain weather.

A journey into these highlands inevitably involves crossings and connections; here, a signature bridge connects accommodations to core facilities while cantilevers dramatically over the site. Suspended above, it frames a surreal, cinematic panorama—turning movement into architectural theater and inviting pause between earth and sky.

In this remote, commanding setting, the project reimagines mountain hospitality as a dialogue between innovation, context, and wonder: architecture deeply rooted yet ambitiously forward-looking.

design & concept: .qureshi


35.95⁰N 74.59⁰EKarakoram Himalaya Hindu Kush - “home archetype for the mountains”At 8,000 feet in Pakistan’s highlands, ...
03/02/2026

35.95⁰N 74.59⁰E
Karakoram Himalaya Hindu Kush - “home archetype for the mountains”

At 8,000 feet in Pakistan’s highlands, this home unveils itself like a hidden dream. The approach is on foot, a quiet trail threading through whispering pines, sunlight splintering through branches as the air thins and sharpens with a cool, resinous scent. Each step is a gentle shedding of the world and life below
The front door opens to an open-sky courtyard—the luminous, beating heart of the house. A lone tree stands rooted in gravel that absorbs the sun all day and exhales its warmth at dusk. Snow falls softly, rain taps like distant music, leaves drift in slow spirals—nature welcomed inside protective stone walls that shield against mountain gales and wild weather
The architecture marries weight and airy strength: thick, locally quarried stone walls anchor deep into the ground, breathing thermal calm through seasons, while a sleek prefabricated steel roof structure lifts the form with quiet grace—resilient, efficient, perfectly tuned to this remote, elemental place

Here, the house and the mountains breathe as one: solid yet light, timeless yet alive, a sanctuary carved from silence and sky

design and concept by: .qureshi

Lipton HQ Pakistan is a sophisticated workspace designed and curated by A soothing palette of deep ambers and soft car...
13/01/2026

Lipton HQ Pakistan is a sophisticated workspace designed and curated by
A soothing palette of deep ambers and soft caramels enhanced by natural light coming from windows that also frame the vibrant energy and landscape of Karachi

Open-plan workstations, crafted with precision and paired with woven rattan chairs, promote focus and flow. Cozy breakout areas with plush pastel seating invite collaboration and calm. Hand-painted murals celebrating the brand’s heritage and fused with the gentle aroma of brewing tea from the in-house R&D lab create an inviting, sensorial environment that blends heritage, tradition with hospitality

Despite extremely low ceilings and over a hundred occupants, innovative acoustic solutions—honed through years of expertise at Studio Subtractive—deliver exceptional serenity, resulting in a balanced and inspiring workspace

Project:
Lead Designers: .r.shahroze
General Contractors:
Furniture:
Flooring:
Murals:
Acoustics/AV:
Photography:

Lipton, one of the world’s most iconic tea brands was founded in late 19th-century Glasgow, now has its Pakistan headqua...
02/01/2026

Lipton, one of the world’s most iconic tea brands was founded in late 19th-century Glasgow, now has its Pakistan headquarters in Karachi -
a sophisticated workspace designed and curated by

The office evokes the serene beauty of a sunlit tea plantation, with warm rustic wooden and cement textures rich in natural grain cladded walls, ceilings, and floors—echoing the crates that once carried Sri Lankan tea leaves. A soothing palette of deep ambers and soft caramels is enhanced by natural light coming from windows that also frame the vibrant energy and landscape of Karachi

Open-plan workstations, crafted with precision and paired with woven rattan chairs, promote focus and flow. Cozy breakout areas with plush pastel seating invite collaboration and calm. Hand-painted murals celebrating the brand’s heritage and fused with the gentle aroma of brewing tea from the in-house R&D lab create an inviting, sensorial environment that blends heritage, tradition with hospitality

Despite extremely low ceilings and over a hundred occupants, innovative acoustic solutions—honed through years of expertise at Studio Subtractive—deliver exceptional serenity, resulting in a balanced and inspiring workspace

Project:
Lead Designers: .r.shahroze
General Contractors:
Furniture:
Flooring:
Murals:
Acoustics/AV:
Photography:

As 2025 draws to a close, we reflect on a year of prolific bold ideas, rigorous exploration and meaningful collaboration...
26/12/2025

As 2025 draws to a close, we reflect on a year of prolific bold ideas, rigorous exploration and meaningful collaboration. At Studio Subtractive, we have continued to push boundaries across diverse scales in architecture, interior, and industrial design—delivering innovative, sustainable solutions for a complex world, demanding a deeper commitment to sustainability, resilience and thoughtful urban futures.
We are deeply grateful to our clients and well-wishers for granting us the freedom to think freely, challenge conventions, and create lasting value for our cities. We remain hungry to reinvent and reimagine the profession at every scale and context.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
Wishing you a peaceful, purposeful and creative 2026
Warm Regards,


• Bank Alfalah – branch transformation
• Getz pharma, Astola – workspace
• Matter by Envicrete – experience center
• Commercial buildings – industrial, retail
• Citibank – LEED Gold workspace in collaboration with Savills - Pakistan
• Design competitions – higher education projects
• Residential
• Private house in the mountains – archetype
• High altitude large scale hospitality development
• Lipton HQ - Workspace

"Matter" by Envicrete experience center masterfully allows visitors to immerse themselves in a sensory journey that enga...
16/12/2025

"Matter" by Envicrete experience center masterfully allows visitors to immerse themselves in a sensory journey that engages customers on a deeper level adding to their knowledge of construction materiality. The diverse products on display transform from mere merchandise into the very architecture of the environment




Project Architect:
Design Lead: ( )
Photography:
Furniture:

Modern retail spaces have transcended simple product showcases, evolving into captivating “experience centers” that invi...
15/12/2025

Modern retail spaces have transcended simple product showcases, evolving into captivating “experience centers” that invite visitors to immerse themselves in a sensory journey that engages customers on a deeper level adding to their knowledge of materiality. Matter by Envicrete Experience Center masterfully embodies this shift. Skillfully retrofitted from an existing load-bearing structure, the space has been reimagined with fluid, dynamic volumes that seamlessly integrate and elevate Matter's diverse products, transforming them from mere merchandise into the very architecture of the environment.

Every element is meticulously curated. Rich floor textures that ground the space, sophisticated wall finishes that draw the eye, and precisely detailed ceiling trims and cornices that add depth and elegance. Soft, thoughtful lighting and acoustics accentuate the materials, guiding visitors on an intuitive path through Matter's vast and inspiring product library—sparking curiosity and delight at every turn.

Nestled against the timeless grandeur of Frere Hall—a stunning Venetian-Gothic masterpiece—and its lush, verdant gardens, the center offers a harmonious blend of historic charm and contemporary innovation, making it effortlessly accessible and a welcoming destination for Karachi's residents.



Project Architect:
Design Lead: ( )
Photography:
Furniture:

Address

1C, Badar Commercial Street 7A. Phase 5 Extension, DHA
Karachi
75500

Opening Hours

Monday 09:00 - 19:00
Tuesday 09:00 - 19:00
Wednesday 09:00 - 19:00
Thursday 09:00 - 19:00
Friday 09:00 - 19:00
Saturday 09:00 - 19:00

Telephone

+922138894831

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