As part of the Magic Carpet 2.0 option studio at UBC SALA, Sarah Samsoudin reimagined the restoration of Lahore Fort’s Picture Wall through the allegorical structure of The Conference of the Birds—a 12th-century Sufi poem by Farid ud-Din Attar. Her project narrated the spiritual and material journey of laborers who, through seven valleys and seven traditional crafts, progress toward mastery and self-recognition. Each valley corresponded to a specific courtyard in the Fort and a form of craftsmanship—brickwork, fresco, stucco, mosaic, mirrorwork — tying architectural restoration to inner transformation. By weaving together Mughal history, Sufi philosophy, and architectural heritage, the project positioned the act of making as both spiritual pilgrimage and cultural resistance.

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