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Aga Khan Award for Architecture Announces Master Jury for 2010

Geneva, 8 January 2010 – The members of the Master Jury of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture were announced today. The Jury, which selects the recipients of the Award, will convene in January to review the 401 nominated projects and select approximately 25 finalists, which will then be subject to on-site reviews by independent experts. The Jury will meet for a second time in June to select the Award recipients from the group of finalists. Recipients will be announced at a ceremony in autumn 2010.

The nine members of the Master Jury for the 2010 Award cycle are:

Professor Souleymane Bachir Diagne
Professor, Department of Philosophy, Columbia University, USA
Mr. Omar Abdulaziz Hallaj
Architect; Chief Executive Officer, Syria Trust for Development
Professor Salah Hassan
Art historian and curator; director of Africana Studies and Research Center, Cornell University, USA
Ms. Faryar Javaherian
Architect and curator; co-founder of Gamma Consultants, Iran
Mr. Anish Kapoor
Artist, UK
Professor Kongjian Yu
Landscape architect and urbanist; founder and dean of Graduate School of Landscape Architecture, Peking University, China
Mr. Jean Nouvel
Architect; founding partner, Ateliers Jean Nouvel, France
Ms. Alice Rawsthorn
Design critic, International Herald Tribune, UK
Mr. Basem Al Shihabi
Architect; Managing Partner, Omrania & Associates, Saudi Arabia

See biographies of Master Jury members (PDF).

The Aga Khan Award for Architecture, established in 1977, is given every three years to projects that set new standards of excellence in architecture, urban and regional design, conservation and landscape architecture. Through its efforts, the Award seeks to identify and encourage building concepts that successfully address the needs and aspirations of societies 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 and spiritual expectations. Particular attention is given to building schemes that use local resources and appropriate technology in an innovative way, and to projects likely to inspire similar efforts elsewhere. The Award is currently in its 11th triennial cycle.

The Award is governed by a Steering Committee whose current members are: His Highness the Aga Khan, Chairman; Mohammad al-Asad (Founder and chairman, Center for the Study of the Built Environment, Amman); Homi K. Bhabha (Director of the Humanities Center, Harvard University, USA); Norman Foster (Founder and chairman, Foster + Partners, London); Glenn Lowry (Director, Museum of Modern Art, New York); Rahul Mehrotra (Principal, RMA Architects, Mumbai, India); Mohsen Mostafavi (Dean of the Graduate School of Design, Harvard University, USA); Farshid Moussavi (Partner, Foreign Office Architects, London); Han Tümertekin (Principal, Mimarlar Tasarim Danismanlik Ltd, Istanbul). Farrokh Derakhshani is the director of the Award.

The Award seeks nominations from the broadest possible range of architectural interventions (nominations for the 11th Cycle were closed in October 2009; nominations for the 12th cycle will be accepted starting January 2011). All types of building projects that affect today’s built environment may be submitted. These include works of architecture that range from modest, small-scale projects to sizable complexes. All forms of planning practices on the urban as well as regional scales are encouraged, and large projects and long-term initiatives that are not yet fully completed – such as master plans, area preservation projects, and community upgrading schemes, among others – are eligible so long as a tangible portion of the project has been completed in a manner that demonstrates its long-term potential success and viability. There are no fixed criteria for the type, nature, location, or cost of projects to be considered, although eligible projects must be designed for or used by Muslim communities, in part or in whole, wherever they are located.

The Award is part of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture which, in turn, is part of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). The AKDN is a group of non-denominational development agencies, created by His Highness the Aga Khan, with complementary mandates ranging from health and education to architecture, culture, microfinance, rural development, disaster reduction, the promotion of private-sector enterprise and the revitalisation of historic cities. The AKDN agencies work to improve living conditions and opportunities for the poor, without regard to their faith, origin or gender. Working in the fields of economic, cultural and social development, AKDN aims to provide choices and opportunities to communities so that they can realise and determine their own development. More information on the Award, the Trust, and the AKDN can be found on our website: www.akdn.org.

For more information, please contact:

Aga Khan Award for Architecture
P.O. Box 2049
1211 Geneva 2
Switzerland Website: www.akdn.org
E-mail: akaa@akdn.org
Telephone: (41.22) 909.72.00
Facsimile: (41.22) 909.72.92
http://www.akdn.org/Content/937/Aga-Khan-Award-for-Architecture-Announce...

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The Aga Khan Award for Architecture
15 May 2010 | Bibliotheca Alexandrina - Administrative Department | Seminar | Open For Public

The Award is a cultural event funded jointly by the EU Delegation to Egypt and Dayra Foundation for Culture and Arts, as part of their interest in promoting creativity and innovation. On the sidelines of this event, Dr. Ismail Serageldin and Dr. Saleh Lamie will deliver a lecture. An exhibition of some Award-winning projects will be also held parallel with the lecture.

Contact Person: Hanan Abd Elrazek
Phone: 1338
Email: Hanan.Abdelrazek@bibalex.org

Event Schedule Location Date From: To: Activity Admission
Great Hall - BACC 15 May 2010 10:00 17:00 Seminar By invitation only
BACC B1 - OA Exhibition 15 May 2010 10:00 17:00 Exhibition By invitation only
Great Hall - BACC 15 May 2010 10:00 17:00 Seminar Open For Public
BACC B1 - OA Exhibition

http://www.bibalex.org/Events/EventDetails_EN.aspx?ID=8750

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http://www.akdn.org/akaa/presskit.asp

Aga Khan Award Press Kit 2010

Resources
Press Releases (English, Arabic and Français)
Project Descriptions
Background Information

Downloads
Shortlisted projects descriptions - PDF format (English, Arabic and Français)
High resolution images

Videos
Broadcast-Quality Video

Contact the Press Officer
Telephone: +41 22 909 7200 / E-mail: info@akdn.org
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http://www.1234economy.com/press-release-brunswick-arts-projects-for-sep...

Aga Khan Award for Architecture - November 24, 2010 - Doha

After announcing the 19 international projects shortlisted for the 33rd edition of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in May at the MoMA in New York, the names of five winners, selected by the jury (Jean Nouvel, Faryar Javaherian, Anish Kapoor, Alice Rawsthorn Souleymane Bachir Diagne, Omar Abdulaziz Hallaj, Salah M. Hassan, Basem Al-Shihabi and Kongjian Yu) will be announced November 24 in Doha.

The Aga Khan Award for Architecture was established in 1977 by His Highness the Aga Khan, to enhance understanding and appreciation of Islamic culture as it is expressed through architecture. His method is to seek and recognize excellence projects that address significant concerns such as aesthetics, issues of social (housing, education, employment ...), the improvement and development community restoration, reuse and conservation of private and public spaces, as well as landscaping and environmental issues. Supported in this effort by a prestigious Executive Committee members include His Highness the Aga Khan, Mohammad al-Asad, Glenn Lowry, Homi Bhabha, Mohsen Mostafavi, Norman Foster, Rahul Mehrotra, Farshid Moussavi and Han Tümertekin.

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Tuesday 23rd November: 19:30 His Highness' Reception and Dinner

Thursday 25th November: 10:00 Winners' Seminar

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http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/qatar/131462-souq-waqif-vies-for-aga-kh...

Souq Waqif vies for Aga Khan honours

Thursday, 04 November 2010 03:55

BY RAYNALD C RIVERA

DOHA: Qatar’s Souq Waqif is one of the 19 contenders in the prestigious Aga Khan Award for Architecture whose winners will be revealed in a ceremony to be held at the Museum of Islamic Art on November 24.

Souq Waqif has been described as a ‘revitalisation project, a unique architectural revival of one of the most important heritage sites in Doha… aimed to reverse the dilapidation of the historic structures and remove inappropriate alterations and additions.’

The 164,000 sq m souq which is home to around 500 shops has become a famous tourist attraction for the fusion of traditional and modern elements such as its sophisticated lighting system.

“In complete contrast to the heritage theme parks that are becoming common in the region, Souq Waqif is both a traditional open-air public space that is used by shoppers, tourists, merchants and residents alike, and a working market,” says a brief description of the project.

“This is the first time that the award ceremony will be held in a GCC country,” Shamsa Rashid, Communications and Outreach Member told the local media yesterday.

Rashid said the 19 nominees from 16 countries were shortlisted from around 400 nominations from around the world.

The award, considered one of the most coveted architecture awards in the world, carries a cash prize of $500,000.

Though she did not elaborate on the criteria which were determined by a nine-member expert panel, some common features stand out among the finalists such as sustainability and environmental awareness.

“The award aims to inspire designers, architects, engineers municipalities, builders, clients and master craftsmen to erect buildings with social consciousness, not just iconic but has significant impact on the lives of the people in the communities they’re in,” she said. This is not the first time Qatar has become a finalist in the 11 cycles of the award. In fact Qatar National Museum won in the first cycle of the award back in 1980.

The other 18 nominees are from Albania, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tunisia and Turkey. The list is diverse and includes schools, residential buildings, centres, mosques, wetlands, heritage sites and a textile factory, among others.

Established in 1977, the award, which is held once every three years, is part of Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) which focuses on the physical, social, cultural and economic revitalisation of communities in the Muslim world.

AKTC is a one of the focus areas of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) founded by HH the Aga Khan, the 49th hereditary Imam (Spiritual Leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims. AKDN focuses on health, education, culture, rural development, institution building and promotion of economic development.

In Islam’s ethical tradition, religious leaders not only interpret the faith but also have a responsibility to help improve the quality of life in their community and in the societies in which they live.

The Peninsula