Geneva, Switzerland – The prestigious Aga Khan Award for Architecture, renowned for its significant contributions to the architectural landscape, has unveiled the nine distinguished professionals that make up the Master Jury for its 2023-2025 cycle. This independent panel bears the responsibility of deliberating on the renowned US$1 million award, set to convene in January to begin evaluating a diverse range of projects submitted globally.
The panel boasts an impressive array of global talent including Azra Akšamija, a MIT professor and Director of the Art, Culture and Technology Program; Noura Al-Sayeh Holtrop who serves as an advisor for Heritage Projects at the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities; and Lucia Allais, Director of the Buell Center at Columbia University.
They are joined by David Basulto, Founder of Archdaily; Yvonne Farrell, a laureate of the Pritzker Prize; Kabage Karanja, a co-founder of Cave_bureau in Nairobi and Assistant Professor at Yale University; and Yacouba Konaté, a Philosophy Professor at the Université Félix Houphouët Boigny in Abidjan.
Rounding out the jury are Hassan Radoine, Director General at Citinnov SA for Integrated Territorial Planning and Smart Cities at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, and Mun Summ Wong, Co-founding Director of WOHA and Professor-in-Practice at the National University of Singapore.
Following the initial meeting to choose the shortlist, shortlisted projects will undergo rigorous inspections by experts — primarily architects, conservationists, planners, or structural engineers. The judges aim to ensure that each candidate not only responds to physical, social, and economic needs but also addresses the cultural aspirations of their communities.
The vast array of submissions are critiqued not just for their aesthetic quality and innovation, but also for their potential influence on future projects. Emphasis is placed on how projects utilize local resources and relevant technology, offering creative solutions that could set benchmarks for architectural projects elsewhere.
The second meeting of the Jury, slated for the summer of 2025, will involve a comprehensive review of these field evaluations before the winning projects are decided.
The Aga Khan Award not only shines a spotlight on architectural excellence but also on the philosophies behind impactful architecture. It stresses the role of architecture in improving quality of life while also advancing cultural expression.
Established in 1977 by His Highness the Aga Khan, the award underscores the critical role architecture plays in society. The aesthetic and functional features of winning projects are expected to inspire similar initiatives globally, paving the way for future innovations in the field.
The steering committee overseeing the Aga Khan Award for Architecture comprises exemplary figures including Meisa Batayneh, principal architect at maisam architects and engineers; Souleymane Bachir Diagne, a professor in French and Philosophy at Columbia University; and Lesley Lokko, founder and director of the African Futures Institute in Accra.
Also on the committee are Gülru Necipoğlu, director and professor at the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture at Harvard University; Hashim Sarkis, dean of the School of Architecture and Planning at MIT; and Sarah M. Whiting, dean at Harvard Graduate School of Design.
This alignment of culturally sensitive and future-forward values ensures the Award remains a beacon for architectural innovation, inspiring architects worldwide to blend tradition with modernity in projects that not only serve, but also enrich communities. The Aga Khan Award continues to set the standard for architecture that encapsulates holistic societal benefits, making each cycle a much-anticipated event in the global architectural community.