Through his building programmes and the Aga Khan Award, the spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslims was an important champion of architecture
There is no other discipline in the world that touches all levels of society – from leaders to commoners – and has a more direct impact on the quality of life of every individual than architecture. And in the realm of global leadership, few voices have been as consistent and compelling in championing the transformative power of architecture as His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV. His perspective on architecture transcended mere aesthetics, positioning it as a fundamental force in shaping human experience, preserving cultural identity and fostering societal progress.
From the age of 20, when he became the 49th Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims in 1957, one manifestation of his hereditary responsibilities was a deep engagement with development to enhance the quality of life not only for his 15 million followers but for society at large. And he identified architecture as an important means to that end.
His engagement with architecture started with building schools and health facilities in the most remote places in Asia and Africa, as well as creating high-quality projects in the developing world. He saw the lack of dialogue and understanding between the various parties involved in projects, and tried to reach his development goals through promoting research, dialogue and identifying examples of excellence.
In the 1970s, he embarked on some major projects, including the Ismaili Centre opposite the V&A in South Kensington, designed by Hugh Casson, and the Aga Khan University and Hospital in Karachi, by Tom Payette. In 1977 he established the Aga Khan Award for Architecture which became an important voice in expanding the understanding of architectural discourse of the time, championing the social and community side of architecture – today an increasingly integral part of the discipline.
The 15 winners of the initial 1980 awards juxtaposed conservation, slum upgrading, engineering, heritage and contemporary architecture, and advanced technology, representing a plurality of approaches. This was complemented by other activities, including the establishment of the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture at MIT and Harvard – where Aga Khan IV had himself studied after early schooling in Switzerland.
The award – now in its 16th triennial cycle – has continued to promote new realities of architecture from different parts of the world. Engagement in preserving neglected historic urban centres and in creating new urban spaces led to the formation of the Aga Khan Historic Cities Programme, which has implemented iconic projects in many cities including the Al-Azhar Park in Cairo, Humayoun’s tomb complex in Delhi, and the Babur Gardens in Kabul.
Going through the list of architects and others involved in the various programmes listed above, one notices that most of the leading architects of the late 20th and early 21st centuries have been involved in various capacities, whether as award jurors, steering committee members, winners, teachers or practitioners, and each contributed to the cause of making a better built environment, so central to Aga Khan IV’s vision.
To take just a few examples, Fumihiko Maki designed three projects for him, including the Aga Khan Centre in King’s Cross, London, while Arata Isozaki designed universities in central Asia. Henning Larsen designed a headquarters for the Nation Media Group in Kenya – one of the numerous enterprises established by Aga Khan IV around the world (the agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network alone have annual expenditures of around $1 billion). Bruno Freschi and Charles Correa were responsible for Ismaili Centres in Canada, and Raj Rewal delivered one in Lisbon, Portugal.
All testified that his vision led them to designing their projects in different ways to how they had worked with other clients. Another important project is to be completed later this year: the Ismaili Centre in Houston, USA, designed by Farshid Moussavi Architecture with engineer Hanif Kara of AKT II.
For Aga Khan IV the essence of architecture was deeply intertwined with the concept of pluralism. He believed in architecture as a powerful medium for intercultural exchange and understanding. ‘We shape our built environment – and then our buildings shape us,’ he was fond of saying, expressing the sentiment that architecture is not a passive backdrop but an active participant in the human story.
During his lifetime, Aga Khan IV offered a compelling blueprint for how architecture can address some of the most pressing challenges of our time, creating spaces that not only shelter but elevate the human spirit.
Farrokh Derakhshani is director of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture and an International Fellow of the RIBA.