As Architects, Urban Planners and Academics gathered in Pakistan to discuss Aga Khan Award for Architecture (AKAA) in a seminar and exhibition titled Architecture is Life, Pakistan’s Institute of Architects presented a citation to His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan, expressing their gratitude for his patronage of architecture, particularly in Pakistan.
Karachi, 7 November 2014 – Architects, urban planners and academics from around the world gathered in Pakistan to discuss the latest Aga Khan Award for Architecture recipients at a seminar hosted by the Aga Khan University (AKU). The projects that not only showcase architectural excellence but also improve the overall quality of life.
The winners of the 2013 cycle encompass a bridge in Morocco, a hospital in the Sudan, the revitalisation of the centre of a historic old town in Palestine, a bazaar in Iran and an Islamic cemetery in Austria. These projects cover infrastructure improvement and urban planning, rehabilitation of historic spaces that lead to the creation of employment and the revival of traditional crafts.
“AKAA is one of the most prestigious international architectural awards in the world. The US$ 1 million award recompenses all the actors involved in the achievement of excellence, whether they are architects, clients, craftsmen, engineers or end-users.”
– Farrokh Derakhshani, Director – Aga Khan Award for Architecture
Many in Pakistan have contributed to the Award procedures during the last twelve cycles. Four local projects are among the 110 recipients so far.
- Tomb of Shah Rukn-i ‘Alam (1983) in Multan was recognised in 1983 for its conservation and restoration
- Bhong Mosque in Rahim Yar Khan was cited for its folk-art exuberance and its service to the community
- Khuda ki Basti project in Hyderabad was selected in 1995 for its exemplary incremental development for low-income inhabitants.
- Alhamra Arts Council complex in Lahore was awarded in 1998 for its contemporary architectural design.
“The very first Aga Khan Award for Architecture was presented in 1980 at the Shalimar Gardens in Lahore. It was an event whose importance was recognised by the Government of Pakistan, which issued a stamp featuring the gardens.”
– Hasan-Uddin Khan, Convenor of the first cycle of the – Aga Khan Award for Architecture and
Distinguished professor of Architecture and Historic Preservation, Roger Williams University, USA.
Aga Khan Award for Architecture (1980)
(Photo: Ismailimail/ASJM Collection)
He stressed that Pakistan plays an important part in the story of the Award: it was here in the mid-1970s that His Highness the Aga Khan announced his plan to establish an award for architecture that would recognise and reward the outstanding creative achievements of individuals, communities, and institutions that contribute to the elevation of the quality of architecture and life in contemporary Muslim societies.
“AKAA introduced the notion that in the judgment of successful architecture, one needs to consider it as the production of a group of people, which includes the client, architects, the builders, craftspeople and the users themselves. This was an idea that was largely absent from the architectural discourse when the Award was first established. This is an enduring contribution to architecture and the way in which it is mediated,” he added.
The exhibition “Architecture is Life” presents the 20 projects, located in 15 different countries, which were shortlisted during the 2011-2013 Award cycle. It is open to the public from November 9 to 16, from 11:00 am till 7:00 pm, at the AKU Sports and Rehabilitation Centre.
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About the Aga Khan Award for Architecture
The Aga Khan Award for Architecture (AKAA) is part of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, which has a wide range of activities aimed at the preservation and promotion of the material and spiritual heritage of Muslim societies.
The Aga Khan Award for Architecture is given every three years to projects that set new standards of excellence in architecture, planning practices, historic preservation and landscape architecture. Through its efforts, the Award seeks to identify and encourage building concepts that successfully address the needs and aspirations of societies across the world, in which Muslims have a significant presence.
The Award is governed by a steering committee chaired by His Highness the Aga Khan. A new committee is constituted each cycle to establish the eligibility criteria for project submissions, provide thematic direction in response to emerging priorities and issues, and to develop plans for the future of the Award. The steering committee is responsible for the selection and appointment of the master jury for each Award cycle, and for the Award’s programme of international seminars, lectures, exhibitions and publications.
The current prize fund totals US$ 1,000,000 and is presented to projects selected by an independent master jury. The Award has completed eleven cycles of activity since 1977, and documentation has been compiled on over 8,000 building projects throughout the world. To date, the master juries have selected 105 projects to receive the Aga Khan Award for Architecture.
About the Aga Khan Trust for Culture
As the cultural agency of the Aga Khan Development Network, Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) leverages cultural heritage as a means of supporting and catalysing development. Its programmes include the Aga Khan Historic Cities Programme which works to revitalise historic cities in the Muslim world, both culturally and socio-economically. Over the last decade, it has been engaged in the rehabilitation of historic areas in Cairo, Kabul, Herat, Aleppo, Delhi, Zanzibar, Mostar, North Pakistan, Tombouctou (Timbuktu) and Mopti. The Trust also supports the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture (AKPIA) at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the website www.Archnet.org, a major online resource on Islamic architecture, the Aga Khan Music Initiative and the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto.
About the Aga Khan Development Network
The Aga Khan Development Network, a private, international, non-denominational development organisation, which is active in 30 countries and employs over 80,000 people globally. Its nine agencies address complex development issues, including the provision of quality healthcare and education services, cultural and economic revitalisation, micro-enterprise, entrepreneurship and economic development, the advancement of civil society and the protection of the environment. For more information, please see: www.akdn.org
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