Aga Khan Award for Architecture Reveals 19 Inspiring Shortlisted Projects for 2025

The Aga Khan Award for Architecture (AKAA) unveiled its shortlist of 19 visionary projects from across 13 countries—each addressing social, cultural and environmental challenges in Muslim-majority contexts. The shortlist, selected from 369 nominations, will now intensively compete for a share of the prestigious US $1 million Prize .

A Tradition of Impact

Founded in 1977 by His Late Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, the triennial award acknowledges architectural works that foster community wellbeing, cultural memory, sustainability, and economic resilience in regions with significant Muslim populations. Over 48 years, 128 projects have been honoured, with nearly 10,000 documented—a testament to the Award’s pioneering influence  .

The 2025 Shortlist: Project Highlights

South Asia & Southeast Asia

• Bangladesh – Khudi Bari (Marina Tabassum Architects): Modular shelters designed for displaced communities facing climate-induced displacement—easily disassembled and reassembled for maximum adaptability.

  Advertisement

• Indonesia – The Arc at Green School (IBUKU/Elora Hardy): A community wellness centre crafted from bamboo, balancing precision engineering and local craftsmanship.

• Indonesia – Nurul Yaqin Mosque (Dave Orlando, Fandy Gunawan): A tsunami-rebuilt mosque in Palu, featuring a reflective pool that can drain to expand space for worship.

• Indonesia – Microlibraries (SHAU/Daliana Suryawinata, Florian Heinzelmann): High-quality public reading spaces in informal urban areas, with six completed and a vision for 100 by 2045.

Middle East & North Africa

• Egypt – Historic Esna Revitalisation (Takween): Citywide transformation blending cultural tourism, urban strategy, and socioeconomic uplift around the Temple of Khnum.

• Iran – Majara Complex (Hormuz Island) (ZAV Architects/Mohamadreza Ghodousi): Colourful domed accommodations crafted by upskilled local artisans to support tourism and local gathering.

• Iran – Jahad Metro Plaza (KA Architecture Studio): Reinvention of a Tehran subway entryway into a pedestrian-friendly landmark using brick-clad vaults.

• Israel – Khan Jaljulia Restoration (Elias Khuri): Revitalisation of a 14th‑century caravanserai in Jaljulia into a vibrant community space.

Sub‑Saharan Africa

• Kenya – Campus Startup Lions (Turkana) (Kéré Architecture): An entrepreneurial and education hub built with local volcanic stone, solar power, rainwater harvesting, and ventilation mimicking termite mounds.

• Senegal – Dakar Railway Station Extension (Ga2D): Expansion accommodating express rail, centring pedestrians by moving vehicular traffic to the rear.

South Asia & Western Asia

• Pakistan – Vision Pakistan (Islamabad) (DB Studios/Saifullah Siddiqui): A tailoring training centre within a 1960s-style façade using ornate jaalis inspired by local crafts.

• Pakistan – Denso Hall Rahguzar (Karachi) (Heritage Foundation of Pakistan/Yasmeen Lari): A heritage hub built with low-carbon materials, terracotta cobbles, and greening features to combat heatwaves and floods.

Levant & Gulf

• Palestine – Wonder Cabinet (Bethlehem) (AAU Anastas): A three-storey craft and innovation centre built with local artisans’ input.

• Qatar – The Ned Hotel (Doha) (David Chipperfield Architects): Conversion of a brutalist former ministry building into a boutique hotel, renewing the urban fabric.

• Saudi Arabia – Shamalat Cultural Centre (Riyadh) (Syn Architects/Alissa & Alsudairi): A cultural space reimagining a mud-brick house in the periphery of Diriyah to support heritage conservation.

North Africa & Türkiye

• Morocco – Lalla Yeddouna Square Revitalisation (Fez) (Mossessian Architecture & Yassir Khalil Studio): Pedestrian-focused rehabilitation and restoration in Fez’s medina.

• Türkiye – Rami Library (Istanbul) (Han Tümertekin Design & Consultancy): Adaptive reuse of an 18th‑century barracks, preserving historic character while creating Istanbul’s largest library.

East Asia & Arabian Peninsula

• China – West Wusutu Village Community Centre (Inner Mongolia) (Zhang Pengju): A multifunctional space for Hui Muslims, artists, and residents using reclaimed bricks.

• UAE – Morocco Pavilion Expo Dubai 2020 (Oualalou + Choi): A LEED Gold-certified rammed-earth structure now repurposed as a cultural facility with sustainable passive cooling.

Each shortlisted project underwent detailed site evaluation by multidisciplinary experts. The Master Jury, featuring nine esteemed professionals—including academics from MIT, Columbia, Yale, MIT Program leaders, and practitioners from Bahrain, Kenya, Singapore, and more—will reconvene in summer 2025 to select winners.

Guided by a Steering Committee chaired by His Highness the Aga Khan, and led in 2025 by Director Farrokh Derakhshani, the Award has long emphasised local resources, cultural continuity, sustainability, and communal impact. Projects are eligible if completed between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2023, with at least one year of active use, and excluding those commissioned by Aga Khan or AKDN entities.

The 2025 shortlist underscores the Award’s role as a catalyst for architecture that is socially responsible, culturally rooted, and environmentally adaptive. As the jury embarks on on-site evaluations, the world awaits to see which of these transformative designs will share in the US $1 million honour.