Karachi, Pakistan — The Aga Khan Award for Architecture (AKAA) aims to inspire future generations to approach architecture with a focus on environmental sustainability, knowledge, and empathy. “Architecture today must engage with the climate crisis, enhance education, and nourish our shared humanity,” said His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V, chair of the AKAA Steering Committee. “Through it, we plant seeds of optimism—quiet acts of resilience that grow into spaces of belonging, where the future may thrive in dignity and hope.”
Founded in 1977 by the late His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, the award identifies and promotes architectural designs that cater to communities with significant Muslim populations. The selection process for the award emphasizes architecture that meets not just the physical and social needs of people, but also their cultural aspirations. Over the past 16 triennial cycles, 136 projects have received accolades, with nearly 10,000 building initiatives documented.
Farrokh Derakhshani, Director of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, emphasized the transformative role of architecture in today’s world. “In an age characterized by climate crisis, resource inequality, and rapid urbanization, the Aga Khan Award for Architecture celebrates projects that unite society and sustainability, empowering a more harmonious and resilient world,” he stated.
The award program is a part of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, an agency within the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). Founded with a vision of improving quality of life and creating opportunities for individuals of all backgrounds, AKDN operates in 30 countries and has established over 1,000 programs, some exceeding a century in age. The network focuses on a comprehensive approach to development, spanning cultural, social, economic, and environmental initiatives.
Highlighting its commitment to building more inclusive communities, the AKAA aims to celebrate architectural initiatives that foster resilience and social cohesion. With an annual expenditure of roughly $1 billion on non-profit development activities, AKDN employs around 96,000 people, primarily in developing countries.
Looking ahead, the book “Optimism and Architecture,” edited by Lesley Lokko, is set to be published in September 2025. This volume will showcase awarded and shortlisted projects for the 2025 Aga Khan Award for Architecture. Through essays and conversations, it will examine how architecture can rejuvenate traditions while forging connections between local practices and global dialogues.
For more information about the award and its initiatives, interested individuals can download materials from the organization’s online press kit. The 2025 Master Jury and Steering Committee will play a crucial role in continuing the award’s mission of promoting architectural excellence and social responsibility.
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