By HENRY GRABAR – When you think of great architecture of the Muslim world, your mind probably turns to the iconic curves and patterns of ancient buildings, from the Alhambra to the Dome of the Rock to the Taj Mahal.
While traditions of form and function persist, it’s hard to box in the various contenders on the shortlist for the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, the triennial prize for outstanding design in societies with significant Muslim populations. The 20 finalists include preservation projects in Morocco, Yemen and Indonesia; apartments in Iran and Sri Lanka; schools in Herat, Kigali and Damascus, and much more. With its focus on Africa and Asia — only one of the twenty projects is located elsewhere — the shortlist is a breath of fresh air in the Euro-centric design world.
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Ismailimail 