Ismaili.NET - Heritage F.I.E.L.D.

The prestigious Aga Khan award for architecture will be presented at a glittering ceremony in the gardens of Humayun's Tomb here Saturday afternoon.
The high-profile award presentation ceremony will be attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Aga Khan, ministers, top diplomats, architects and bureaucrats.

The award, established in 1977 by the Aga Khan, the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, to enhance the understanding and appreciation of Islamic culture as expressed through architecture, is presented every three years.

Prizes worth $500,000 are selected by an independent master jury to honour building concepts that successfully address the needs and aspirations of societies in which Muslims have a significant presence.

To present the award, the Aga Khan arrived here with his entourage on Wednesday. He met President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Manmohan Singh on Thursday.

As part of the three-day award celebrations, a stamp unveiling ceremony will be held Sunday evening in Agra to commemorate the issue of special postage stamps featuring Agra Fort and the 2004 Aga Khan award for architecture.