Aga Khan Award for Architecture - Islamic Architecture

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Granada, Spain, 9th OCTOBER 1998

Your Majesties,
Mr. President,
Your Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,

It is my distinct pleasure to open the 1998 Award Presentation Ceremony of
the Aga Khan Award for Architecture. It is an honour to do so in the
presence of Their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain, and a privilege to
welcome them, and all of you, here this evening. I would like to take special
note of the largest contingent of ministers of governments from the Islamic
world ever to attend this event. I interpret their presence as an expression
of interest and commitment to the thoughtful process of physical change in
their societies.

The triennial Presentation Ceremony of the Award for Architecture is the
culmination of a careful, comprehensive, and intense effort to identify
building projects worthy of world-wide attention in Islamic societies.
Tonight we will celebrate the achievements represented by the seven
projects selected this year. This evening's occasion has special significance
in that it marks the completion of the Award's first twenty years. We are
therefore especially grateful for Your Majesties' presence, and for your
support, that of the Royal Household, the Spanish Government, and the
Government of Andalusia in making it possible to celebrate this occasion in
this remarkable setting.

Each Award Presentation Ceremony has been held in a setting of special
significance in the history of Islamic architecture. The Alhambra Palace is in
the very best of this tradition, and I would like to thank its Administration
and the Municipality of Granada for their assistance in the arrangements for
all of the activities here today. This exceptional expression of the genuis of
Islamic buildings and gardens is beautifully presented and maintained, a
credit to all those responsible for its management, and indicative of the
respect for culture and architecture, in its richness and diversity, that is so
enthusiastically embraced here in Spain.

For the first time the Award Presentation Ceremony is being held in
Western Europe. Spain's example of successful cultural pluralism, reaching
back into all chapters of its history, and out to the diverse array of
countries in the region, including an important part of the Islamic world,
makes this a particularly appropriate and inspiring setting. Under His
Majesty King Juan Carlos's wise and foresighted leadership, Spain's
bridging role between Europe and the Ummah is being enhanced to the
benefit of both.

Having completed twenty years -- a generation in human terms -- it is
appropriate to offer some observations on the Award's record. The decision
to create the Award stemmed from a sense that Islamic societies had lost
some of their extraordinary inheritance in a domain of human creativity in
which they once set standards for the rest of the world. Skill, knowledge,
and vision in the realm of architecture were once a hallmark of Islamic
civilisations, and central to the identity of its peoples. The overarching goal
of the Award is to stimulate the reawakening of that inheritance, and
nurture its continuing evolution in contemporary terms, by seeking
examples of creative solutions to the wide range of needs for buildings and
public spaces.

The Master Juries -- appointed anew for each cycle, and completely
independent in their work -- have brought many remarkable projects to the
attention of the wider public, and have created what is now a continuing
discourse about architecture appropriate for Muslim communities as they
confront the modern world. This year's Jury, whom I would like to take this
opportunity to commend and thank for their work, has made its own
distinctive contribution to this process. The results of its decision to search
for projects with a wide global context and meaning, as well as those with
regional significance, has yielded a rich and interesting mixture of Award
winning projects.

Collectively the seventy-six projects selected for premiation over the last
twenty years share a celebration of the humanity of inspired architecture,
and confirm the potential of its social purposes. They are also
distinguished by the pluralism of the cultures of the Islamic world in which
they are rooted, a pluralism that all Master Juries have both honoured and
trusted. This richness of cultural expression is even more fully documented
in the materials collected on the hundreds of projects considered but not
selected in each cycle of the Award. But what are the prospects for the
pluralism of cultures in the Islamic world, their richness of expression, and
their contributions to world culture as one looks ahead over the next twenty
to forty years? On the basis of my extensive travels as Imam of the Shia
Ismaili Muslims or in connection with the activities of the Aga Khan
Development Network, I feel there are grounds for serious concern. Rapidly
expanding populations, increasing environmental degradation, and the
unevenness of development and resources, all contribute to the growth of
an underclass that has never had sufficient opportunity or support for
participation in cultural activities.

More recently, the seemingly universal increase of migration to the cities,
and the tragedy ofdislocated populations seeking refuge from civil strife in
many parts of the world have brought further pressure. Both of these
processes remove people from familiar surroundings and thrust them into
the unknown in terms of culture. Finally, there is the avalanche of new
images, whether projected by the modern global electronic media, or by
more traditional orthodoxies that make hegemonic claims with new vigour in
response to it. Both are very powerful forces, both are monopolistic in
intent, and neither nurtures or even respects pluralism.

In conclusion I would offer several propositions based on lessons drawn
from the experience of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture. They are
relevant to its future work, and perhaps, more globally, to the process of
cultural development and change. The loss of our inheritance of cultural
pluralism -- the identity it conveys to members of diverse societies, and the
originality it represents and stimulates in all of them -- will impoverish our
societies now and into the future. Sustaining this inheritance will require
conscious and concerted effort involving the best minds and most creative
institutions around the world. This effort must be grounded in an informed
understanding of history and cultural context, and yet be forward looking
and imaginative as it addresses the needs of contemporary societies. It will
require an enabling environment, characterised by open and unfettered
debate of ideas, a trust in cultural diversity, the celebration and reward of
innovation, and a commitment to civil society and pluralistic government. It
will also necessitate that the cultures of the developing world establish a
presence on the rapidly growing information superhighway to balance
those that currently dominate the new electronic media. This will require an
investment of time and resources and a mastery of regional and
international languages. Unless these cultures develop creditable and
creative ways to present themselves effectively in this new and powerful
medium of communication, cultural pluralism will suffer a massive setback.

Your Majesties, Mr. President, Your Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, the
search started by the Aga Khan Award for Architecture twenty years ago
will continue. It will remain committed to learning and sharing what is
learned. Although its focus is Islamic societies, its quest is to develop
knowledge and understanding that is outward looking and universal in
nature. It is in that very spirit, that I am grateful for your presence here
tonight.

Thank you.

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Islamic Architecture Article

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Press Release from Aiglemont

Aga Khan Award for Architecture Website 1998

Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture Websit

Aga Khan Architecture Award 1998 Ceremony