Stewardship of the environment is embedded in Islam and Islamic architecture reflects humanism; nowhere else is this humanism more deeply embedded than in Islamic architecture.
This was the view expressed by Hasan-Uddin Khan, distinguished professor of architecture and historic preservation at the Roger Williams University, USA, while speaking as the chief guest at a seminar, “Architecture is Life”, at the Aga Khan University auditorium on Friday. The seminar was held by The Aga Khan Award for Architecture in collaboration with the Aga Khan University.
“Architecture is not about buildings. It is about people,” Khan said.
The chief guest traced the journey of the award from 1980 when it was held for the first time at Lahore’s historic Shalimar Gardens. He also narrated the important role the award had played in Pakistan.
About Aga Khan Award for Architecture
The Aga Khan Award for Architecture (AKAA) 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 selection process emphasizes architecture that not only provides for people’s physical, social and economic needs, but that also stimulates and responds to their cultural expectations. Particular attention is given to building schemes that use local resources and appropriate technology in innovative ways, and to projects likely to inspire similar efforts elsewhere.
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 twelfth triennial cycle of the Award runs from 2011-2013. 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.
The first Award Cycle Presentation Ceremony was held in Shalimar Gardens, Lahore, Pakistan in 1980 and since then every three years, the Awards have been presented at historically significant locations around the world such as:
- Topkapi Palace, Istanbul, Turkey (1983)
- Badi Palace, Marrakesh, Morocco (1986)
- Citadel of Saladin, Cairo, Egypt (1989)
- Registan Square, Samarkand, Uzbekistan (1992)
- Karaton Surakarta, Solo, Indonesia (1995)
- The Alhambra, Granada, Spain (1998)
- Citadel of Aleppo, Syria (2001)
- The Humayun Tomb Complex, New Delhi, India (2004)
- The Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2007)
- Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, Qatar (2010)
- Castle of São Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal (2013)
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