I want to share a personal story in this article and take a moment to reflect on my journey since August 2021—a journey that has been anything but straightforward, yet one that has brought me closer to my purpose than ever before.
I never pictured myself living outside of Afghanistan. My roots run deep in the soil of my homeland, where I grew up, studied, and eventually graduated from Kabul University with a degree in architecture. In 2012, I founded Taak Design, a pioneering firm that focused exclusively on architecture and engineering design—sort of a first of its kind in Afghanistan.
Through Taak Design I poured my heart into designing various projects, from modest three-story homes to towering 17-story mixed-use buildings. I had the privilege of conceptualizing the new headquarters for the Kabul Traffic Police Department, a facility designed to serve over 15,000 people. I had a clear purpose: to grow Taak, work on meaningful projects, and build a team of experts who shared my vision. And I succeeded. One of my achievements was forming a strategic partnership with Tamveel from BrightPoint Consulting Services, led by my friend Matiullah Rahmaty.
Taksar Tower (middle) and Ayoub Tower (right), Taak's designs, Shahr-e-Naw, Kabul, AF
But then, August 2021 happened - the fall of republic. It felt like everything I had built was suddenly crumbling. The work I had poured my soul into was at a standstill. Yet, in that moment of uncertainty, I saw an opportunity—a chance to grow in ways I hadn't been able before. With the newfound time on my hands, I decided to invest in myself. I transitioned from Autodesk AutoCAD to Revit, a move that marked the beginning of a professional transformation. The year 2022 became a year of learning, growth, and rediscovery.
Before I became an architect, I was an artist—a painter and Nastaliq calligrapher, to be precise. My love for art led me to architecture, a field that allowed me to marry my passion for creativity with my aptitude for science. In March 2023, I reconnected with my artistic roots by joining Namad Gallery, founded by my friend Marzia Panahi. Together, we relaunched Namad on a global scale in Germany. This experience rekindled my love for art and filled me with a renewed sense of purpose.
However, something was still missing. I felt a growing need to do something more—something that would have a lasting impact. Then came the October 2023 earthquakes in Herat, Afghanistan. The devastation was unimaginable. As I watched the news, I felt an overwhelming sense of guilt. How could I take pride in my work when so many people were losing their lives in poorly constructed homes? It became clear to me that my previous work, while significant, had not done enough to protect the most vulnerable.
I knew I had to do something. My first thought was to design homes for the people affected by the earthquake and offer the plans for free. But I quickly realized that without the skills to read and execute those designs, most people wouldn’t benefit. That’s when my friend Nasrat Khalid, founder of Aseel, approached me with an idea: What if we built the homes ourselves and gave them to those in need? The idea resonated deeply with me, and I knew this was the way forward.
I threw myself into the project, exploring various options. My first prototype was a home built using the rammed earth method—cheap and sustainable, but not feasible for mass production. My second attempt was a hybrid of prefabrication and on-site construction. While this method was faster, it still wasn’t scalable. Finally, I landed on a fully prefabricated design, one that could be built in mass, installed quickly, and made affordable. I named this product "Lana."
Lana represents more than just a home; it symbolizes hope, resilience, and the potential for communities to rise from the ashes. As I worked on Lana, I realized that it's not about just building homes—we are building communities, shaping the way people live, interact, and thrive together. This realization led me to establish a startup, Tahdab, focused on creating next generation communities, starting in Afghanistan.
Today, as I look back at my journey since August 2021, I feel more connected to my purpose than ever before. The journey hasn’t been easy, still challenging, but it has been incredibly rewarding. I’ve learned that even when life throws the unexpected at you, there’s always a way to find your path again. I found mine in the midst of uncertainty, and I hope my story inspires you to keep pushing forward, no matter what challenges you face.
Thank you for reading. Lana is still in its developing stage, but it holds incredible potential. It's not a one-man job; it requires more work, more hands, and more hearts. The road ahead is challenging and full of uncertainties, but that's exactly where the adventure lies!
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