Latest news with #AgaKhanAwardforArchitecture
Gulf Today
a day ago
- General
- Gulf Today
Aga Khan Award for Architecture shortlists 19 projects in 2025 cycle
The Aga Khan Award for Architecture (AKAA) has announced 19 shortlisted projects for its 2025 Award cycle. The projects will compete for a share of the $1 million prize, one of the largest in architecture. The 19 shortlisted projects were selected by an independent Master Jury from a pool of 369 projects nominated for the 16th Award Cycle (2023-2025). The shortlisted projects are: From Bangladesh, Khudi Bari, in various locations, by Marina Tabassum Architects. It is a replicable solution for displaced communities affected by climatic and geographic changes, which can be disassembled and reassembled. From China, West Wusuti Village Community Centre, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, by Zhang Pengju. It provides social and cultural spaces for residents and artists, while addressing the religious needs of the local Hui Muslims. It is built from reclaimed bricks. From Egypt, the Revitalisation of Historic Esna by Takween Integrated Community Development. It addresses cultural tourism challenges in Upper Egypt, transforming Esna from a neglected site centred on the Temple of Khnum, into a prospering historic city. Khan Jaljulia Restoration. From Indonesia are three projects, including The Arc at Green School in Bali, by IBUKU/Elora Hardy. It is a new community wellness centre designed on the existing foundations of a former temporary gymnasium. The structure involves high-precision engineering and local craftsmanship; Islamic Centre Nurul Yaqin Mosque in Palu, Central Sulawesi, by Dave Orlando and Fandy Gunawan, erected on the site of a former mosque destroyed by a tsunami in 2018; and Microlibraries, in various cities, by SHAU/Daliana Suryawinata, Florian Heinzelmann, who initiated the project, offering quality public spaces in several Kampung and parks in Indonesia. Six have been built so far, and 100 are envisioned by 2045. From Iran: Majara Complex and Community Redevelopment on Hormuz Island by ZAV Architects/Mohamadreza Ghodousi, famous for its colourful domes. It provides sustainable accommodation for people; and Jahad Metro Plaza in Tehran, by KA Architecture Studio, built to supersede the poor-quality existing structures, for pedestrians. From Israel, Khan Jaljulia Restoration, in Jaljulia, by Elias Khuri, an economical intervention, situated among the remains of a 14th-century Khan. It transforms the deserted historical site into a vibrant public space. From Kenya is Campus Startup Lions in Turkana, by Kéré Architecture, an educational and entrepreneurial hub. Built with local volcanic stone, the design integrates rainwater harvesting, solar energy and tall ventilation towers reminiscent of surrounding termite mounds. From Morocco, the Revitilisation of Lalla Yeddouna Square in the medina of Fez, by Mossessian Architecture and Yassir Khalil Studio. It aims to reconnect to the riverfront and enhances pedestrian circulation in the area. Revitalisation of Historic Esna. From Pakistan, Vision Pakistan in Islamabad, by DB Studios/Mohammad Saifullah Siddiqui, which accommodates a tailoring training centre operated by Vision Pakistan, a charity that aims to empower disadvantaged youths; and Denso Hall Rahguzar Project in Karachi, by Heritage Foundation of Pakistan/Yasmeen Lari, a heritage-led eco-urban enclave created by using low-carbon materials in response to the harsh climate of Karachi, which is prone to floods and heat waves. From Palestine comes the Wonder Cabinet in Bethlehem by AAU Anastas, a multi-purpose, non-profit exhibition and production space. The three-floor concrete building is becoming a key hub for craft, design, innovation and learning. From Qatar is The Ned Hotel in Doha, by David Chipperfield Architects, where a Middle Eastern brutalist architecture once hosted the Ministry of Interior, before being adapted into a 90-room boutique hotel, contributing to architectural regeneration in the area. From Saudi Arabia hails the Shamalat Cultural Centre in Riyadh, by Syn Architects/Sara Alissa, Nojoud Alsudairi. It is a cultural space on the periphery of Diriyah, developed from an old mud house. From Senegal comes the Rehabilitation and Extension of Dakar Railway Station in Dakar, by Ga2D, to accommodate the passengers of a new express railway line. The site gives back the forecourt to pedestrian travellers. Shamalat Cultural Centre, Riyadh. From Türkiye is the Rami Library by Han Tümertekin Design & Consultancy, the largest library in Istanbul. It took up quarters in the former Rami Barracks, a large single-storey structure with high volumes, built in the 18th century. The United Arab Emirates has the Morocco Pavilion Expo Dubai 2020 by Oualalou + Choi. It was designed to outlive the Expo 2020 and to be converted into a cultural facility. The pavilion pioneers the advancement of large-scale rammed earth construction methods. It obtained the gold LEED certification for its use of passive cooling strategies, which keep mechanical air-conditioning to a bare minimum. The nine members of the independent Master Jury who selected the 19 shortlisted projects are: Azra Akšamija, Director, Art, Culture and Technology Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, USA; Noura Al Sayeh-Holtrop, Advisor for Heritage Projects, Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, Manama, Bahrain; Lucia Allais, Director, Buell Center, Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, New York, USA; David Basulto, Founder & Editor, ArchDaily, Santiago, Chile & Berlin, Germany; Yvonne Farrell, Visiting Professor, Academy of Architecture, Mendrisio, Switzerland and Founder and Partner, Grafton Architects, Dublin, Ireland; Kabage Karanja, Co-founder, Cave_bureau, Nairobi, Kenya and Assistant Professor of Architectural Design, Yale University, New York, USA; Yacouba Konaté, Professor of Philosophy, University Félix Houphouët Boigny of Abidjan-Cocody, Abidjan, Ivory Coast; Hassan Radoine, Director General, Citinnov SA for Integrated Territorial Planning and Smart Cities, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Rabat, Morocco; and Mun Summ Wong, Professor-in-Practice, Department of Architecture, College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore and Co-founding Director, WOHA, Singapore.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Champion of Islamic Architecture, the Aga Khan, Dies at 88
The Aga Khan IV, a spiritual leader of the Ismaili Muslim community and a prominent champion in architecture and cultural preservation, died yesterday in Portugal at the age of 88. As a 20-year-old Harvard graduate, the Aga Khan, born Prince Shah Karim Al-Hussaini, became the 49th hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims in 1957, leading a global community of Shia Muslims. He is considered by his followers to be a direct descendant of the prophet Muhammad, and treated elsewhere as a head of state, given the title of "his highness" by Queen Elizabeth that same year (the pair were friends, both ardent fans of horse racing, often watching sport together at Royal Ascot). He was a lifelong philanthropist and champion of Islamic architecture. In 1967 he founded the Aga Khan Foundation, now known as Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), to support sustainable, community-driven development to tackle poverty, primarily in South and Central Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East. Today the AKDN employs 96,000 people across more than 30 countries, according to its site, and channels $1 billion per year into development projects including hospitals, schools, universities, businesses and climate and cultural initiatives. But one of his most enduring contributions is the Aga Khan Award for Architecture (AKAA), which was established in 1977. The accolade is awarded every three years with a monetary prize of $1 million, to projects that address the needs and aspirations of Muslim societies in the fields of housing, community development, historic preservation, and landscape design. 'The award was designed, from the start, not only to honor exceptional achievement, but also to pose fundamental questions,' the Aga Khan said in a speech at a 2013 awards ceremony in Lisbon. 'How, for example, could Islamic architecture embrace more fully the values of cultural continuity, while also addressing the needs and aspirations of rapidly changing societies?' 'How could we mirror more responsively the diversity of human experience and the differences in local environments?" he continued. "How could we honor inherited traditions while also engaging with new social perplexities and new technological possibilities?' Since its inception, the award has recognized over 100 projects, ranging from large-scale public projects to modest initiatives that incorporate traditional craftsmanship and local materials. Recipients of the award include Zaha Hadid's Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut in 2016, and Bangladeshi architect Marina Tabassum's Bait Ur Rouf Mosque in Dhaka, which incorporates traditional brick construction and natural ventilation, also in 2016. Other winners include Foster + Posters, Denise Scott Brown, and Rafael Moneo. The Aga Khan also extended his resources in architectural education, setting up programs for Islamic architecture at MIT and Harvard, establishing a Fumihiko Maki-designed museum in Toronto in 2014, and and in 2018, building the Aga Khan Centre in King's Cross in London, created as a place for education and cultural exchange and also designed by Maki. With the Aga Khan's passing, both the Aga Khan Award for Architecture and the efforts of the AKDN are expected to continue their work. You Might Also Like From the Archive: Tour Sarah Jessica Parker's Relaxed Hamptons Retreat 75 Small (But Mighty) Kitchens to Steal Inspiration from Right This Instant
Arab Times
05-02-2025
- Politics
- Arab Times
Aga Khan IV, Spiritual Leader of Ismaili Muslims, Passes Away at 88 in Portugal
Lisbon, Feb 5: His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, the 49th hereditary imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims and a global philanthropist, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 88. The Aga Khan Development Network and the Ismaili religious community announced that he died in Portugal, surrounded by his family. Born on December 13, 1936, in Switzerland, the Aga Khan became the spiritual leader of millions of Ismaili Muslims at just 20 years old while still an undergraduate at Harvard. He was chosen by his grandfather, Aga Khan III, who bypassed his son, believing that the community should be led by a young man 'brought up during the new age.' Throughout his life, the Aga Khan balanced his religious role with business and philanthropy, building a vast empire that funded homes, hospitals, and schools in developing countries. His Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), active in over 30 nations, focuses on healthcare, education, rural development, and cultural preservation, with an estimated annual budget of $1 billion for nonprofit activities. His philanthropic efforts included funding hospitals in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Tajikistan, as well as restoring historic Islamic sites and promoting architectural excellence through the Aga Khan Award for Architecture. Although he avoided political involvement, the Aga Khan was widely regarded as a bridge between Muslim societies and the West. Queen Elizabeth II granted him the title of 'His Highness' in 1957, recognizing his influence on the global stage. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described him as an 'extraordinarily compassionate global leader' who will be deeply missed. Beyond his philanthropic work, the Aga Khan was a well-known horse breeder, represented Iran in the 1964 Winter Olympics as a skier, and established Islamic architecture programs at Harvard and MIT. He spent much of his life in France before settling in Portugal, where he will be laid to rest. The identity of his successor, designated in his will, will be announced after a reading in Lisbon in the presence of his family and religious leaders. He is survived by three sons, a daughter, and several grandchildren.
The National
05-02-2025
- Business
- The National
Spiritual leader the Aga Khan dies aged 88
The Aga Khan, renowned for his success in horse racing, dazzling wealth and rural economic development, has died in Lisbon at the age of 88. His death was announced by the Aga Khan Foundation on Wednesday morning. The 49th hereditary imam, spiritual leader of the world's 15 million Ismaili Muslims, was synonymous with success as a racehorse owner, with the thoroughbred Shergar among his most famous. The Aga Khan's charities ran hundreds of hospitals, educational and cultural projects, largely in the developing world. The Aga Khan Development Network said the announcement of his successor "will follow". "Leaders and staff of the Aga Khan Development Network offer our condolences to the family of His Highness and to the Ismaili community worldwide," it said. "As we honour the legacy of our founder, Prince Karim Aga Khan, we continue to work with our partners to improve the quality of life for individuals and communities across the world, as he wished, irrespective of their religious affiliations or origins." The network serves millions of people in 29 countries and aims to bring a wider understanding of Islam, and to foster a brotherhood within the Ummah. As one of the first museums of Islamic art in North America, the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, Canada, helps deepen understanding and knowledge exchange between cultures and faiths. In 1977, the Aga Khan established the US$1 million Aga Khan Award for Architecture awarded every three years to projects that are judged to set new standards of excellence while addressing the needs of communities in which Muslims or Islamic heritage have a significant presence. Its 13th cycle was held in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, in 2016. In 2017, under the mentorship of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, a new education initiative, the Young Architects and Design Programme was established in partnership with Alserkal Avenue. The following year, the Aga Khan visited the Emirates as part of a diamond jubilee tour marking 60 years as spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslim community, where he was received by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, The Aga Khan Award for Architecture has documented thousands of projects, including Jean Nouvel's Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris, the Azem Palace in Damascus, Louis Khan's National Assembly Building in Dhaka, and the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur. In 2019, Sharjah's Wasit Wetland Centre was named a winner of the award, with Concrete in Alserkal Avenue and Al Mureijah Art Spaces at the Sharjah Art Foundation also nominated. The restored Flying Saucer in Sharjah was also shortlisted in 2022.
