His Highness the Aga Khan, alongside India’s Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, announced the seven recipients of the ninth cycle of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in Dehli November 27. Established in 1977 by the Aga Khan, the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, 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 triennial prize, the largest architectural award in the world, can total up to $500,000.

During his speech at the award ceremony, the Aga Khan noted that “the award recognizes the efforts of architects and their clients, builders—large and small, governments, planners, international organizations, granting agencies, village organizations, and individuals. All of them are collectively responsible for the creation of a humane and socially supportive built environment that is so important to our quality of life. It is therefore most appropriate that this event is taking place in India, a country rich in cultural heritage and pluralistic traditions. Here, many cultures have maintained their distinct identities while combining and cooperating to create something even greater, the dynamic and vibrant India of the modern world.”

Call to protect heritage
Located at the spectacular gardens of Emporer Humayun’s Tomb, which was recently restored by the Aga Khan Foundation, Prime Minister Singh used the occasion to call attention to the derelict state of India’s architectural heritage and ask that Indians protect and preserve their legacy: “We must remember that these [structures] belong to succeeding generations, not merely in India, but the world over. Therefore it is essential that we make every effort to preserve and sustain our monuments.”

Drawn from 44 countries, the 378 projects submitted for the ninth cycle must have been completed and in use for one full year between January 1, 1991, and December 31, 2002, and designed for and used by Muslim communities, wherever located. The recipients of the ninth award cycle represent efforts to improve the human condition in the categories of infrastructure, landscaping, community development, public urban spaces, and responses to the growing crisis of housing shortage in many Muslim societies.

Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Alexandria, Egypt, by Snøhetta Hamza Consortium
A revival of the legendary ancient library at Alexandria, this facility boasts six specialist libraries, three museums, seven research centers, three permanent galleries, offices, a planetarium, public plaza, cafeteria, and space for temporary exhibits. The main reading area, able to accommodate 2,000 readers, is a large open space with eight terraces, each accommodating a different subject section, starting from the roots of knowledge (philosophy, history, religion, geography) and ending with the latest technologies. The new library has reinstated Alexandria as a center for learning, and Egypt as an open, modern center of cultural exchange.
Jury comments: “ . . . [I]t shows an innovative approach to the design and placement of a large, symbolic form on one of the most important waterfronts in the world . . . While the building is groundbreaking in architectural and technological terms, it also responds sensitively to a wide spectrum of issues, including politics, religion, culture, and history . . . ”

Primary School, Gando, Burkina Faso, by Diébédo Francis Kéré
With a population of 3,000, Gando lies on the southern plains of Burkina Faso. Convinced that education is the cornerstone of advancement, one townsperson who studied architecture abroad determined that his village must have a school. Due to his efforts to design, finance, and train local craftsmen, Gando opened its first school in July 2001. Sustainability and climatic conditions were of prime concern, as well as raising awareness of and appreciation for traditional building materials and methods. All people involved in the project management were native to Gando.
Jury comments: “This project has received an award for its elegant architectonic clarity, achieved with the most humble of means and materials, and for its transformative value . . . the school is the result of a vision that was first articulated by the architect and then embraced by his community . . . The result is a structure of grace, warmth, and sophistication, in sympathy with the local climate and culture.”

Sandbag Shelter Prototypes, various locations, by Nader Khalili and Cal-Earth Institute
Iranian architect Nader Khalili, concerned about the global need to house millions of refugees and displaced people, developed a sandbag or “superadobe” system of building. Filled sandbags are laid in a circular pattern, with barbed wire between layers, and corbelled near the top to form a dome. The resulting structures are very safe: the barbed wire between the sandbags enhances earthquake resistance, the aerodynamic form resists strong winds, the sandbags resist flood waters, and the earth within the bags provides insulation and fireproofing. In addition, because the materials are local, the structures are completely sustainable and able to be erected by any able person.
Jury comments: “The prototype is a symbiosis of tradition and technology. It employs vernacular forms, integrating load-bearing and tensile structures, but provides a remarkable degree of strength and durability for this type of construction . . . Due to their strength, the shelters can also be made into permanent housing, transforming the outcome of natural disasters into new opportunities.”

Restoration of Al-Abbas Mosque, Near Asnaf, Yemen, architectural and masonry restoration by Abdullah al-Hadrami
Nearly 900 years old, Al-Abbas is sited on the sacred remains of a pre-Islamic temple or shrine. The mosque’s cube shape is an ancient form in Islamic architecture and is even represented in the Kaaba (which means cube), built by Abraham and considered Islam’s holiest site. Major restoration was carried out on the roof and coffered ceiling, where rotting and warping had taken its toll. Traditional materials and techniques were used where possible, including use of qudad, a mortar composed of lime and volcanic aggregate that is polished with a smooth stone and daubed with animal fat. The building’s elegance has been restored and the local residents are once again proud of their magnificent mosque.
Jury comments: “This scheme . . . applies exemplary conservation standards and engages local pride in safeguarding this culturally significant monument for future generations . . . Although the restoration spanned approximately 10 years during exceptional political conditions, the consistency, dedication, and commitment of both the external and local stakeholders ensured that the fabric of the building was not compromised in any way.”

Old City of Jerusalem Revitalization Program, Old City, Jerusalem
The urban fabric of Jerusalem has suffered from long periods of neglect, inappropriate use, and inadequate services and housing. To preserve cultural heritage and improve residents’ quality of life, a survey was conducted throughout the old city to identify the structures most in need of repairs and restoration. Many of the restored projects are single-family houses and housing complexes, but also include mosques, churches, madrasas (schools), and hostels, some converted for new uses. This project aims at improving every aspect of the human condition and includes provisions for education, training, and increasing public awareness. To date, over 160 projects have been completed.
Jury comments: “The program has received an award for its comprehensive approach towards sustaining the life of a community in its natural setting—a life threatened by the deterioration of its physical, social, and economic conditions. This effort is conducted under severe constraints, restoring the old city as a living, vibrant, and beautiful environment. The process is meticulously conducted by a team of professionals motivated by their love of the place and its people. This is a project about dignity and self-esteem.”

B2 House, Büykhüsun, Ayvacik, Turkey, by Han Tümertekin, principal designer and Eylem Erdinç, project architect
Located near a small, tightly-knit, agricultural community of about 450, B2 House is an unabashedly Modern structure. While it clearly sits apart from the traditional housing of the village, B2 pays homage to its environs by using local materials and traditional building techniques. The owners, two brothers in search of weekend refuge and solitude, wanted to contain both scale and cost while ensuring a simple, practical, and earthquake-resistant structure. The program of the house is therefore straightforward and basic: The living room dominates the ground floor, with two bedrooms located on the upper floor. To maintain the connection to nature, the two floors are linked by an external staircase and semi-external spaces, including the kitchen, bathrooms, laundry and storage areas, and a fireplace that opens onto an outdoor living room sheltered beneath the stair deck.
Jury comments: “It represents a progressive approach in acknowledging the history of its place, the surrounding houses and landscape, to form a new and unique creation that is, at the same time, an integral part of its community. The house stands apart—beautifully shaped and elegantly dressed—but in the future additional houses may embrace and adopt it, fully integrating it into a wider landscape.”

Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, by Cesar Pelli & Associates
Reaching 452 meters and 88 stories into the Malaysian skyline, Petronas Towers were certified the world’s tallest buildings by the Council of Tall Buildings in 1996. The innovative design, derived from an Islamic pattern, is based on the concept of two interlocking squares forming an eight-pointed star. Communication between the two towers is enhanced by the skybridge at the 41st and 42nd floors. The towers are also joined at their base by a six-level, mixed-use retail and entertainment complex. Throughout the facility, automatic controls and advanced communication systems reduce energy consumption and promote convenience. Vertical transportation is provided by double-deck lifts and the integrated “cool-recovery” system uses exhaust air to cool outside air entering the building, saving as much as 50 percent on airconditioning.
Jury comments: “[I]t represents a new direction in skyscraper design, featuring advanced technology while symbolizing local and national aspirations. The success of this project lies in the manner in which it incorporates these technological innovations while generating a slender form that responds poetically to the broader landscape. The simple geometrical pattern that generates the plan not only uses space efficiently to maximize exposure to natural light, but also creates a rich spatial expression.”

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