Maria Sajid Zaheer is a trained architect and an urban planner. With a focus primarily on urban design and landscape architecture, Maria has garnered extensive experience in these fields throughout her career. Currently serving as a lecturer in the Department of Architecture and Planning at Dawood University of Engineering and Technology in Karachi, Maria’s design philosophy is deeply rooted in advocating for local communities, considering the nuances of the local climate, and respecting the contextual aspects of each project. Having a multifaceted role of an educator, practitioner, and researcher, her projects are particularly focused on exploring the concept of collective memory notion in architecture and planning. Her work seeks to emphasize the importance of the urban spaces between the buildings and to uncover how architectural design can reflect and enhance the cultural heritage and identity of communities.