Oman to Host Prize Distribution Ceremony for Aga Khan Architecture Award 2022
Muscat, 22 Sep (ONA) --- The Sultanate of Oman will host the prize distribution ceremony for Agha Khan Award for Architecture 2022. The event, to be held in October 2022, marks the 45th anniversary of the award, with a turnout of 463 contesting projects shortlisted for the 15th edition of the prize.
Sayyid Said Sultan Al Busaidi, Culture Undersecretary and head of the team tasked with preparing for Oman’s hosting the Aga Khan Award, said that the event affirms that Oman has become a global destination for culture, literature and art.
Al Busaidi pointed out that the event seeks to achieve 11 objectives of the cultural strategy and that it reflects Oman’s cultural activity goes hand in hand with global developments and is in harmony with goals of national, regional and international strategies.
For his part, Farrokh Derakhshani, Director of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, said, “We are very pleased to announce that the Sultanate of Oman will host the 15th edition of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture. A selection of architects and experts will gather in Muscat at the end of October to celebrate the rich architectural heritage of the Islamic world, with special focus on outstanding projects achieved in the last decade”.
Aga Khan Award for Architecture was established in 1977. It seeks to identify, encourage and promote building concepts that successfully meet the needs and aspirations of communities where Muslims have a significant presence since the inception of the award 45 years ago. As many as 128 projects have received the award and, accordingly, about 10,000 building projects have been documented.
The selection process for Aga Khan Award responds to the physical, social and economic needs of people, as well as their cultural aspirations. The Award recognizes architectural projects that stand out in terms of innovative design and ‘social’ housing improvement and development.
The Award also promotes historical restoration, reuse of resources, landscape design and environment sustainability. It accords a special attention to building schemes that use local resources and appropriate technology in innovative ways, besides projects that are likely to require similar efforts elsewhere in the world.
The Award honours architects and parties engaged in the realization of projects, including municipalities, construction workers, skilled craftsmen and engineers who have played important roles in the accomplishment of the projects.
--- Ends/Bishara/Khalid
