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Two SFD-supported projects given the Aga Khan
Award
Two cultural-heritage
projects
supported by the Social Fund
fo r Development (SFD) were
presented the Aga Khan Award for Architecture upon the
recommendation of the Award's Master Jury. The projects are
the
Rehabilitation of the City of Shibam/ Hadhramaut and the
Restoration of the Al-Amiriyah Mosque and Madrasah "religious
school" ("An outstanding contribution to architecture for
Muslims"—as
stated in the Award certificate)
The Award
was presented by His Highness the Aga Khan to SFD's
Cultural-Heritage Unit-Head during the ceremony held on 4
September 2007 in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) with the presence of
Mr. Abdullah Badawi, the Malaysian Prime Minister.
Out of 343
competing projects worldwide, nine were chosen. These include—in
addition to the two SFD projects—the following: (1) Samir Kassir
Square, Beirut, Lebanon; (2) Central Market, Koudougou, Burkina
Faso; (3) University of Technology Petronas, Bandar Seri
Iskandar, Malaysia; (4) Moulmein Rise Residential Tower,
Singapore; (5) Royal Netherlands Embassy, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia;
(6) Rehabilitation of the Walled City, Nicosia, Cyprus; and (7)
School in Rudrapur, Dinajpur, Bangladesh.
The Aga Khan
Award for Architecture is one of the most prestigious
architectural awards in the world. It recognizes projects of
architectural excellence, community improvement and development
and conservation of heritage in the Islamic world using
contemporary technology. The Award identifies and encourages
building concepts that successfully address the needs and
aspirations of Muslim societies.
It is worth
mentioning that this year's ceremony marked the 30th anniversary
of the Award, which was founded in 1977 by His Highness the Aga
Khan and is presented in three-year cycles.
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