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Aga Khan dies at the age of 88: advocate of Islamic architecture and the cultural heritage | News

Aga Khan dies at the age of 88: advocate of Islamic architecture and the cultural heritage | News

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The Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Muslim Ismaili community and a prominent figure in architecture and cultural maintenance, died at the age of 88.

Prince Karim al-Hussaini, the Aga Khan IV, became the 49th hereditary imam of the Ismaili Muslim and led a global community of Shiite Muslims, which are known for their emphasis on education, philanthropy and development. The Ismaili community, which has roots in South Asia, East Africa and the Middle East, is a branch of Shiite Islam with a pronounced theological and cultural tradition. Through the AGA Khan Development Network (AKDN), he supervised numerous initiatives in education, healthcare and urban development, many of which included strong focus on architecture and nature conservation.

One of his most constant contributions to the built environment is the AGA Khan Award for Architecture (AKAA), which was founded in 1977. The award, which runs in three -year cycles, is considerably present, with the focus on cultural continuity, ecological sustainability and social effects.

In a speech at the 2013 award ceremony in Lisbon, the AGA Khan explained its purpose: “The award was not only created exceptional services from the start, but also to ask basic questions. For example, how could Islamic architecture take the values ​​of cultural continuity in more detail and at the same time address the needs and efforts of quickly changing societies?

“How could we reflect the diversity of human experience and the differences in local environments? How could we honor traditions and at the same time deal with new social confusion and new technological opportunities? “

The award, one of the largest architecture with a price fund of 1 million US dollars, has recognized over 100 projects since its foundation. The winners ranged from large -scale public projects to modest community -related initiatives, which often contain traditional craftsmanship and local materials. The former winners include the Tabiat football bridge in Tehran by Diba Tensile Architecture (2016), the Wadi Hanifa -Wetlands project in Riad (2010) and the Hajj terminal at King Abdulaziz International Airport by Fazlur Khan (1983).

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The Issam Fares Institute of Zaha Hadid at the American University of Beirut was the six winners of the 2016 Awards. The building, which was designed for academics and research areas, was recognized for its approach to location restrictions, whereby the most important research areas float over the entrance courtyard to reduce its footprint and to maintain the surrounding landscape. The AKDN described the project as “a dense program within a surprisingly small footprint in a way that is sensitive to its context”.

Another recipient of the award, the Bangladesh architect Marina Tabassum, was recognized in 2016 for her Köder -Rouf mosque in Dhaka, which includes traditional brick construction and natural ventilation. She is Currently they design the 2025 serpentine pavilion.

Kader Ur Rouf Mosque

The AGA Khan Trust for Culture, a branch of the AKDN, was involved in the restoration and nature conservation efforts, especially in deputy locations of the Islamic heritage. The projects included the restoration of historical city centers in Cairo, Aleppo and Mostar as well as the rehabilitation of the Niemeyer Guest House in Tripolis, Lebanon, which was recognized in the 2022 cycle. The trust also promoted the use of traditional craftsmanship and supported craftsmen and builders in reviving skills that have shaped the Islamic architectural heritage.

The influence of the AGA Khan was based on architectural education, with institutions such as the AGA Khan program for Islamic architecture at Harvard University and the MIT that focuses on studying Islamic design, urbanism and nature conservation.

The successor to the AGA Khan is determined by a process known as a wet, in which the current imam refers to its successor. After the death of Aga Khan IV. The official website of the Ismaili Community granted that his successor “was called wet in accordance with the historical Shia Imami Ismaili tradition and practice”, whereby the name of the community recorded in his will was announced And the community was announced after he was read high -ranking managers.

While the official successor does not yet have to be confirmed, it is generally expected that his eldest son, Prince Rahim Aga Khan, will take on the role of the 50th Imam. Prince Rahim, born in 1971, played an active role in the AGA Khan Development Network, especially in economic development and environmental initiatives.

After the death of Aga Khan, questions about the future direction of the AGA Khan Award for architecture and the broader cultural efforts of the AKDN can arise. However, both will probably continue their work to support architectural excellence, the preservation of the inheritance and the development of the community.