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Oxford Dictionary of Islam:

Aga Khan Award for Architecture

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Established in 1977 by the Aga Khan to enhance the understanding and appreciation of Islamic culture as expressed through architecture. It seeks out and recognizes examples of architectural excellence that successfully address the needs of societies in which Muslims have a significant presence.

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Aga Khan Award for Architecture

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AKAA redirects here. For the Finnish town, see Akaa.
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The Aga Khan Award for Architecture (AKAA) is an architectural prize established by Aga Khan IV in 1977. It aims to identify and reward architectural concepts that successfully address the needs and aspirations of Islamic societies in the fields of contemporary design, social housing, community development and improvement, restoration, reuse and area conservation, as well as landscape design and improvement of the environment.[1] It is presented in three-year cycles to multiple projects and has a monetary award, with prizes totalling up to US$ 1 million.[2] Uniquely among architectural awards, it recognizes projects, teams, and stakeholders in addition to buildings and people.[1]

The award is associated with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN).

The 11th Award cycle runs from 2008-2010.

Contents

Award process and Chairman's Award

The award is aimed at societies in which Muslims have a significant presence.[1] It is organized on the basis of a three-year cycle and is governed by a steering committee chaired by the Aga Khan IV.[2]

A new committee is constituted each cycle to establish the eligibility criteria for project, provide thematic direction with reference to current concerns, and to develop plans for the long-term future of the award. The Steering Committee is responsible for the selection of the Master Jury appointed for each award cycle, and for activities such as seminars and field visits, the award ceremony, publications and exhibitions.

Prizes totalling up to US$1m, constituting the largest architectural award in the world,[1] are presented every three years to projects selected by the Master Jury.[3] The award has completed nine cycles of activity since 1977; documentation has been compiled on over 7500 building projects located throughout the world. To date, 92 projects have received awards. The tenth award cycle covers the period from 2005 to 2007.[2]

The Chairman's Award is given in honor of accomplishments that fall outside the mandate of the Master Jury. It recognizes the lifetime achievement. It has been presented three times: In 1980 to Egyptian architect and urban planner Hassan Fathy,[4] in 1986 to Iraqi architect and educator Rifat Chadirji,[5] and in 2001 to Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa.[6]

Award cycles

First (1978-1980)

Shalimar Gardens, Lahore, Pakistan, location of the awards ceremony in 1980

The award ceremony took place at the Shalimar Gardens in Lahore, Pakistan. During this cycle, the Chairman's Award was given to Hassan Fathy in recognition of his lifelong commitment to architecture in the Muslim world. Prominent architect Mazharul Islam was a member of Master Jury of first Aga Khan Award for Architecture.

Award recipients:

  • Conservation of Sidi Bou Saïd, Tunis

  • Water Towers, Kuwait City

Second (1981-1983)

Topkapı Palace, Istanbul, location of the Awards ceremony in 1983

The award ceremony took place at the Topkapı Palace in Istanbul.

Award recipients:

  • Šerefudin's White Mosque, Visoko, Bosnia and Herzegovina

  • Nail Çakirhan Residence, Akyaka Village, Turkey

  • Mausoleum of Shah Rukn-i-Alam in Multan, Pakistan

  • Azem Palace, Damascus, Syria

Third (1984-1986)

El Badi Palace, Marrakesh, Morocco, location of the Awards ceremony in 1986.

The brief prepared by the Steering Committee for this award cycle focused on the preservation and continuation of cultural heritage, community building and social housing, and excellence in contemporary architectural expression.

Six winners were chosen from among 213 entries.[7] The conservation of Mostar Old Town and restoration of Al-Aqsa Mosque were examples of cultural heritage, the first theme, while the Yama Mosque and Bhong Mosque were noted for their innovation in translating traditional techniques and materials to meet contemporary requirements. The Social Security Complex and Dar Lamane Housing address the issues of community and social housing while remaining sensitive to local culture.

The award ceremony took place at El Badi Palace in Marrakesh, Morocco. During this cycle, the Chairman's Award was given to Rifat Chadirji.

Award recipients:

  • Conservation of Mostar Old Town, Bosnia and Herzegovina

  • Restoration of Al-Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem

  • Bhong Mosque, Pakistan

Fourth (1987-1989)

Citadel of Salah Ed-Din in Cairo, location of the awards ceremony in 1989

The fourth cycle of the award considered 241 project nominations. Of these, 32 were short-listed for technical review[9] and the Master Jury selected 11 winners. Two themes were noted as areas of focus in this cycle: Revival of past vernacular traditions, and projects that reflect the efforts of individual patrons and of non-governmental organisations in improving society.

Projects such as the Great Omari Mosque and the Rehabilitation of Asilah seek to reconstruct and preserve heritage buildings for continued use, demonstrating the significance of these spaces within their communities. Meanwhile the Grameen Bank Housing Programme and Sidi el-Aloui Primary School apply architectural solutions to address current socioeonomic issues.

The award ceremony took place at the Citadel of Salah Ed-Din in Cairo.

Award recipients:

Fifth (1990-1992)

Registan Square in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, location of the Awards ceremony in 1992.

The award ceremony took place at the Registan Square in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Award recipients:

Sixth (1993-1995)

Surakarta palace, Indonesia, location of the Awards ceremony in 1995.

The award ceremony took place at the Kraton Surakarta in Surakarta, Indonesia.

Award recipients:

Seventh (1996-1998)

Alhambra (Granada, Spain).

The Master Jury selected seven winning projects of the 424 presented. During this cycle, special emphasis was placed on projects that responded creatively to the emerging forces of globalization. Issues such as demographic pressure, environmental degradation, and the crisis of the nation-state, and the changes in lifestyle, cultural values, and relationships among social groups and between governments and people at large they prompted, were considered..

Of the winning projects, the rehabilitation of Hebron Old Town and Slum Networking of Indore City sought to reclaim community space in environments strained by social, physical and environmental degradation. The Lepers Hospital created a sustainable and dignified shelter for a marginalized segment of society. The remaining projects were recognized for their contribution in evolving an architectural vocabulary in response to contemporary social and environmental challenges.[10]

The award ceremony took place at the Alhambra in Granada, Spain.

Award recipients:

Eighth (1999-2001)

Citadel of Aleppo, Syria, location of the Awards ceremony in 2001

The Award Presentation Ceremony took place at the Citadel of Aleppo in Syria. During this cycle, the Chairman's Award was given to Geoffrey Bawa to honour and celebrate his lifetime achievements in and contribution to the field of architecture.

Award recipients:

Ninth (2002-2004)

Humayun's Tomb, New Delhi, India, the location of the Awards ceremony in 2004.

During the ninth cycle, 378 projects were nominated. Of these, 23 were site-reviewed, and the Master Jury selected seven award recipients.[12] Notable among the recipients is the Sandbag Shelter Prototypes, a technique by which victims of natural disasters and war can build their own shelter using earth-filled sandbags and barbed wire. The resulting structures - made up of arches, domes and vaulted spaces - provide earthquake resistance, shelter from hurricanes and flood resistance, while being aesthetically pleasing.

Other winning projects include a primary school in Gando, Burkina Faso, that combines high-caliber architectural design with local materials, techniques and community participation. The Bibliotheca Alexandria in Egypt and the Petronas Towers in Malaysia are examples of high-profile landmark buildings.

The award ceremony took place at the Humayun's Tomb in New Delhi, India.

Award recipients:

  • Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Alexandria, Egypt

  • Primary School in Gando, Burkina Faso

  • Old city of Jerusalem Revitalisation Programme

  • Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Tenth (2005-2007)

Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, location of the Awards ceremony in 2007

This cycle marked the 30th anniversary of the award. A total of 343 projects were presented for consideration, and 27 were reviewed on site by international experts.[13]

The Award Presentation Ceremony was held at the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The award recipients were:

Eleventh (2008-2010)

Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, the location of the Awards ceremony in 2010

A total of 401 projects were nominated of which 19 were shortlisted.[14]

The award recipients were:

  • Wadi Hanifa Wetlands, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  • Revitalisation of the Hypercentre of Tunis, Tunisia
  • Madinat Al-Zahra Museum, Cordoba, Spain
  • Ipekyol Textile Factory, Edirne, Turkey
  • Bridge School, Xiashi, Fujian, China

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Aga Khan Award for Architecture." ArchitectureWeek 9 Jan. 2002.
  2. ^ a b c Aga Khan Award for Architecture announces Master Jury for 2007." Canadian Architect 12 Jan. 2007.
  3. ^ "Aga Khan Award for Architecture announces Master Jury for 2007". Canadian Architect (Business Information Group). 2007-01-12. Archived from the original on 1 March 2007. http://www.canadianarchitect.com/issues/ISArticle.asp?id=64306&issue=01122007. Retrieved 2007-01-28. 
  4. ^ Lifetime Achievements of Hassan Fathy
  5. ^ Lifetime Achievements of Rifat Chadirji
  6. ^ Lifetime Achievements of Geoffrey Bawa
  7. ^ "The Changing Present, Loughran, G., Saudi Aramco World, Nov/Dec 1987: 28-37". Archived from the original on 29 December 2006. http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/198706/the.changing.present.htm. Retrieved 2006-12-06. 
  8. ^ (AKTC) (ArchNet)
  9. ^ "Better by Design, Loughran, G., Saudi Aramco World, Nov/Dec 1989: 28-33". Archived from the original on 29 December 2006. http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/198906/better.by.design.htm. Retrieved 2006-12-06. 
  10. ^ Cynthia C. Davidson (ed.), ed. (1999). Legacies for the Future: Contemporary Architecture in Islamic Societies. New York: Thames and Hudson Ltd.. ISBN 0-500-28087-8. 
  11. ^ (ArchNet)
  12. ^ "Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2004 - Architecture & Urbanism magazine, No. 78/79, Autumn/Winter 2005, Tehran". Archived from the original on 2 December 2006. http://www.caroun.com/Architecture/AgaKhan/z4-AgaKhan-2004.html. Retrieved 2006-12-06. 
  13. ^ "Nine Projects Receive 2007 Aga Khan Award for Archicture" (Press release). Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). 2007-09-04. Archived from the original on 10 September 2007. http://akdn.org/news/2007September4.htm. Retrieved 2007-09-06. 
  14. ^ Jenna M. McKnight: Revealed: Winners of 2010 Aga Khan Award for Architecture, in the Architectural Record, November 24, 2010, retrieved 1 December 2010

Sources

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Further reading

External links


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