Yasmeen Lari’s work as an architect totally changed after the devastating 2005 Kashmir and Hazara earthquake. One of the most destructive earthquakes of modern times, it killed more than 80,000 people and left 3.5 million homeless. And her work became green design for the 99% – the poor who can’t afford to hire an architect.

This work offers lessons for how to rebuild after disasters in ways that support people and communities in ways that help prevent the future disasters that may come from climate change. Like a program in Nepal, it uses locally-available materials and teaches people to rebuild by themselves.”Yasmeen’s pathbreaking work on zero carbon, eco-friendly and sustainable shelters may just show the way forward,” said StirWorld in a 2020 profile.