Aga Khan Award for Architecture in Lisbon

Islamic Cemetery in Austria by Bernardo Bader Architects © AKAA / Adolf Bereuter

The ceremony of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2013 will be held at the Castle of S. Jorge in Lisbon, next Friday the 6th of September 2013.

The shortlist for this US$ 1 million prize range includes 20 nominees, from a modern high rise apartment block to the revival of traditional building techniques. Shortlisted projects, which are selected by an independent Master Jury, are located in Afghanistan, Austria, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Rwanda, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Thailand and Yemen.

Shortlisted projects are available at: http://www.akdn.org/architecture/awards.asp?tri=2013

Museum of Handcraft Paper in China by Trace Architecture Office © AKAA / Shu He

Farrokh Derakhshani, the Director of the Award, remarked: “The Master Jury, which includes some of the most prominent architects of our time, made interesting choices this year. For example, they chose schools in Afghanistan and Syria, but they also chose a hospital in Sudan, a high rise in Bangkok and the reconstruction of a refugee camp in Lebanon. In many ways, the choices reflect a central preoccupation of the Award: the impact of buildings and public spaces on the quality of life. Now this seems fairly mainstream, but we must remember that the Aga Khan Award has been talking about 'human scale' and 'sustainability' since 1977”.

Mapungubwe Interpretation Centre in South Africa by Peter Rich Architects © AKAA / Obie Oberholzer

The Award’s mandate is different from that of many other architecture prizes: it selects projects – from innovative mud and bamboo schools to state of the art “green” high-rises – which not only exhibit architectural excellence but also improve the overall quality of life. Since the Award was launched 36 years ago, over 100 projects have received the award and more than 7,500 building projects have been documented.

The Met Tower in Thailand by WOHA Architects © AKAA / Patrick Bingham-Hall

The Aga Khan Award for Architecture was established by the Aga Khan in 1977 to identify and encourage building concepts that successfully address the needs and aspirations of communities in which Muslims have a significant presence. The Award recognises examples of architectural excellence in the fields of contemporary design, social housing, community improvement and development, historic preservation, reuse and area conservation, as well as landscape design and improvement of the environment.

Preservation of the Mbaru Niang in  Indonesia by Rumah Asuh/Yori Antar © AKAA / Rumah Asuh/Yori Antar

The Award is governed by a Steering Committee chaired by His Highness the Aga Khan, that selects an independent jury, composed of nine members, each three-year cycle.

The ceremony is scheduled for 20.30 and will include the presentation of a new postage stamp commemorating the award, and the inauguration of an exhibition illustrating the Islamic influence in Portugal, organized in collaboration with Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, that can be visited until the end of 2013, at the Castle of S. Jorge, in Lisbon.

More about the Aga Khan Award for Architecture at: http://www.akdn.org/architecture/