The Aga Khan’s project, including the Ismaili Centre, is a rare Toronto building that aspires to both importance and permanence, writes Christopher Hume.
By Christopher Hume. Published on Mon Sep 15 2014
Above all, the Ismaili Centre and Aga Khan Museum are an act of faith, not just in religion but in Toronto. Of all the cities where these facilities, especially the museum, could have been located, the Ismailis chose this one.
Not only did they construct their monuments in a forlorn site at Eglinton and Wynford Dr., they hired two of the finest architects in the world — Fumihiko Maki of Japan and Charles Correa from India — to design them.
Not only did the Ismailis see the possibility of beauty where no one here had noticed, they put their money — $300 million and a priceless collection — where their mouth is.
On top of that, they placed the complex within a fully formed landscape of exquisite reflecting pools and mature trees.
The Ismaili ideals of pluralism and inclusion are built into the very architecture and layout of the place.
More Aga Khan Museum a needed dose of civic ambition for Toronto: Hume | Toronto Star.
Earlier:
Aga Khan Museum and Ismaili Centre a dramatic intrusion of elegance
Hume discusses the new Ismaili centre under construction at Wynford Drive
New Ismaili complex will enrich Toronto
Ten reasons the GTA — not just downtown Toronto — is getting better all the time
Ismailimail 