Edward House is made of local Gizri sandstone and limestone,[3] with ornamental molds.[4] Adjoining, there is another mansion known as Victoria Mansion,[5] which may have also been designed by Samoke given the similarity in style - although no records exist recording his work there.[6]
Use
It used to house the Cafe Grand, operated by Herbert Bertie Cumper.[2] The cafe was frequented by Karachi's elite, including the founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and his sister Fatima Jinnah.[7] The building also housed the Stars Club - which was re-established in 2017 in the building.[8]
The building is protected by the Sindh Cultural Preservation Act, 1994.[7] In 2012, renovation of the house was completed at the cost of Шаблон:PKR, a rehabilitation and conservation project which started in 2010.[1] The restoration was criticized on the grounds that the Sindh Department of Antiquities awarded works to an inexperienced contractor who "over-restored" the building,[9] and chiseled away some original stone work in attempt to remove the patina which had formed on the building.[6]
