His Excellency Rustam Minnikhanov, President of the Republic of Tatarstan, inaugurated the exhibition. President Minnikhanov welcomed the decision of the Award’s Steering Committee to host the prestigious prize-giving ceremony in the historic city of Kazan in the autumn of 2019.
A rigorous process in which a team of experts investigate each of the shortlisted projects is now underway. Their findings will be presented to the Master Jury this summer. The Master Jury will then select the recipients of the Award from among the shortlisted projects.
Established in 1977, the Aga Khan Award for Architecture is presented every three years to projects that set new standards of excellence in architecture, planning practices, historic preservation, and landscape architecture. Through its efforts, the Award seeks to identify and encourage building concepts that successfully address the needs and aspirations of societies across the world in which Muslims have a significant presence.
The previous Award cycle was completed in 2016. In his remarks at the prize-giving ceremony held in Al-Ain, UAE, Mawlana Hazar Imam remarked that “architecture is the only art form which has a direct, daily impact on the quality of human life.”
Hazar Imam went on to speak of the pluralistic approach of the Award in recognising projects that extend the boundaries of architecture.
“The Spirit of the Award has been an inclusive one, valuing all manner of buildings and spaces, from skyscrapers to mud huts, from residences to work and gathering spaces, from reforestation and financing projects to cemeteries, bridges and parks, from the accomplishments of signature architects to those of anonymous craftsmen.”
Images and descriptions of each of the 2019 shortlisted projects can be found here.
