Latest news with #AgaKhanAward
CairoScene
18-06-2025
- Business
- CairoScene
Esna Revived: Egypt Returns to Aga Khan Award Shortlist After Decades
Esna Revived: Egypt Returns to Aga Khan Award Shortlist After Decades The Revitalization of Esna by Takween has been rapped by the Aga Khan Awards due to its thoughtful bottom-up approach. In 2009, Takween - an Egyptian urban development company - began its venture in the ancient and then-forgotten Upper Egyptian city of Esna with a question: 'Can the future of medium-sized, underprivileged cities in Egypt be reimagined?' This inquiry led to a 15-year partnership with the city's people, working together to preserve and revitalise its built heritage. This year, these efforts have garnered international recognition, placing an Egyptian project on the Aga Khan Award for Architecture's (AKAA) shortlist for the first time in decades. Located 60 kilometres south of Luxor, Esna has long been overlooked by Egypt's cultural tourism map. The city's rich offering of Greco-Roman, Coptic, Islamic, and modern heritage was reduced to a single attraction: the Temple of Khnum. Everything beyond it - its caravanserais, local markets, Ottoman-era houses, and community stories - faced neglect, with some areas even slated for demolition. Aerial view of Esna with the Temple of Khnum at the centre © Takween ICD / Ahmed Mostafa What followed was not a top-down restoration project, but a community-driven transformation model. Takween conserved 20 heritage buildings, activated thousands of job opportunities, upgraded 17 community-managed services, and helped rebrand the city with a new visual identity all while centering local participation, especially women's involvement in tourism activities. The AKAA 2025 shortlist places among the architectural giants of our time. It's a meaningful return for Egypt, which last appeared on the AKAA shortlist in 2004 with the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Prior to that, Egypt had won the award seven times, including for the Nubian Museum in 2001. But what makes Esna's recognition all the more powerful is its bottom-up approach. Unlike iconic state-led structures, this project thrived through grassroots involvement, strategic partnerships, and support from institutions such as the US government, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and AECID (Spanish Cooperation). It is a compelling example of how heritage, when nurtured with care and vision, can become an engine for society to bloom. Revitalisation of Historic Esna. ©Takween ICD / Xenia Nikolskaya with Courtesy of Aga Khan Trust for Culture One of the most iconic sites of this initiative is Wakalat al-Geddawi, an 18th-century caravanserai that once pulsed with regional trade but had fallen into ruin. Between 2018 and 2021, Takween led a meticulous conservation and adaptive reuse project that reintroduced the structure as a cultural anchor for both residents and visitors. The building's mudbrick and wood architecture, with its decorative panels and inner courtyard, now stands restored as a record of local craftsmanship. The initiative also included upgrades to the historic Qisariyya Market and Bazaar Street, the restoration of the 19th-century Royal Guesthouse, and the rehabilitation of 15 other architecturally significant sites, collectively weaving Esna's built heritage back into daily civic life. As Takween celebrates this milestone, they continue to invite others into the journey: architects, city planners, policymakers, and citizens alike. As Takween said in their announcement celebrating the shortlisting—"Esna is not an isolated success. It's a prototype for what is possible when architecture serves people, stories, and place.'
Arab News
24-02-2025
- Business
- Arab News
What do biennales and auctions mean for the future of Saudi Arabia?
The Islamic Art Biennale is the first biennale dedicated exclusively to Islamic art. It tells a story that spans centuries, continents, and cultures. It is a celebration of Islamic art and a blueprint for how culture can drive economic growth, promote global dialogue, and preserve heritage. With contributions from institutions such as the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Bruschettini Foundation for Islamic and Asian Art, the biennale is a living archive of Islamic heritage. The event, held in Jeddah, brought together a collective of cultural luminaries, serving as a vehicle for cultural diplomacy. Biennales influence social ecology by shaping cultural discourse and encouraging cross-cultural exchange. There are roughly 240 biennales worldwide, and each one serves a purpose. Some market cities, others boost tourism, and many help consolidate cultural infrastructures in metropolises. For smaller towns, biennales invariably act as a spotlight, repositioning them on the cultural map. Biennales, in essence, wield strategic influence — a form of soft power that creates meaningful connections on a global scale. The Islamic Art Biennale, however, is in a league of its own. It is putting Jeddah on the map, and it is redefining what a biennale can do. By hosting the event at the Hajj Terminal — a site that won the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 1983 — the biennale creates a communal space where visitors can engage directly with Islamic art and each other. By making use of existing structures like the Hajj Terminal, the biennale preserves heritage and sets the stage for a resurgence of cultural and economic activity in the region. By bringing global art markets to the region, such events create opportunities for local artists, dealers, and patrons, fostering a vibrant cultural and creative economy. Biennales are economic engines, and the Islamic Art Biennale is no exception. Hotels, restaurants, and transport services all benefit from the influx of visitors. Cities hosting these events often experience a surge in employment opportunities, both directly and indirectly. These ripple effects frequently lead to urban regeneration, transforming areas into thriving cultural hubs. Improved infrastructure and the development of cultural facilities leave a lasting legacy, making cities more attractive to visitors, investors, and residents alike. The Islamic Art Biennale also displays the growing ecosystem of art and culture in Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom recently hosted its first auction, a significant milestone in its cultural evolution. This event was Sotheby's inaugural auction in Saudi Arabia, highlighting the region's growing importance in the global art market. By bringing global art markets to the region, such events create opportunities for local artists, dealers, and patrons, fostering a vibrant cultural and creative economy. Sotheby's went the extra mile to ensure accessibility and engagement; they also hosted an enlightening series of talks on the history of Middle Eastern art. In an increasingly digital world, the Islamic Art Biennale and the Sotheby's sale remind us of the enduring power of face-to-face interaction. It is about the conversations they spark, the connections they foster, and the communities they build. The real challenge lies in ensuring that these events leave a lasting legacy. From my experience, I have seen that the success of such initiatives requires careful planning, strategic investment, and a deep understanding of their long-term implications. The key is to build a sustainable cultural infrastructure — one that nurtures local talent while attracting global attention. And if the early signs are anything to go by, the Kingdom is passing with flying colors. But the real question is: what comes next? How does Saudi Arabia build on this momentum? How does it ensure that these events are part of a broader cultural strategy that positions the Kingdom as a global leader in the arts? These are the questions that will determine the long-term impact of cultural initiatives. And in a world that's constantly changing, the answers will shape not just Saudi Arabia's future but the future of international culture itself. • Dr. Ghadah W. Alharthi is an international cultural adviser and an associate professor specializing in culture and innovation at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London. X: @ GhadahWA
