2016 Aga Khan Award for Architecture

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New Power Station, Baku, Azerbaijan. The main entrance to the multifunctional hall building features transparent facades and large canopies created to enable outdoor gatherings.

New Power Station, Baku, Azerbaijan. The main entrance to the multifunctional hall building features transparent facades and large canopies created to enable outdoor gatherings. Image: AKTC / Cemal Emden

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Bait Ur Rouf mosque, Bangladesh. Random circular roof openings allows daylight into the prayer hall, creating an ornate pattern on the floor.

Bait Ur Rouf mosque, Bangladesh. Random circular roof openings allows daylight into the prayer hall, creating an ornate pattern on the floor. Image: AKTC / Hassan Saifuddin Chandan

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Friendship Centre, Gaibandha, Bangladesh. The centre is constructed and finished primarily with local hand-made bricks.

Friendship Centre, Gaibandha, Bangladesh. The centre is constructed and finished primarily with local hand-made bricks. Image: AKTC / Eric Chenal

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Micro Yuan’er, Beijing, China. A children’s public library built of concrete mixed with Chinese ink.

Micro Yuan’er, Beijing, China. A children’s public library built of concrete mixed with Chinese ink. Image: AKTC / ZAO/standardarchitecture, Wang Ziling

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Aerial view of the urban park Superkilen, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Aerial view of the urban park Superkilen, Copenhagen, Denmark. Image: AKTC / Superflex

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Manouchehri House, Kashan, Iran. Upper view of the courtyard showing southern and eastern wings after restoration.

Manouchehri House, Kashan, Iran. Upper view of the courtyard showing southern and eastern wings after restoration. Image: AKTC / Abbas Fallahkar

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Tabiat Pedestrian Bridge, Tehran, Iran. The bridge has become one of Tehran's architectural destinations with its multiple paths and inviting spaces.

Tabiat Pedestrian Bridge, Tehran, Iran. The bridge has become one of Tehran’s architectural destinations with its multiple paths and inviting spaces. Image: AKTC / Mohammad Hassan Ettefagh

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40 Knots House, Tehran, Iran. The Iranian historic traditions of Persian carpets and building bricks have been fused into a contemporary facade.

40 Knots House, Tehran, Iran. The Iranian historic traditions of Persian carpets and building bricks have been fused into a contemporary facade. Image: AKTC / Mohammad Hassan Ettefagh

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Royal Academy for Nature Conservation, Ajloun, Jordan. A crack in the ceiling of the corridors creates a contrast of light and shadow on the interior limestone cladding.

Royal Academy for Nature Conservation, Ajloun, Jordan. A crack in the ceiling of the corridors creates a contrast of light and shadow on the interior limestone cladding. Image: AKTC / Cemal Emden

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Bunateka Library in Lubinjë e Epërme village, Kosovo.

Bunateka Library in Lubinjë e Epërme village, Kosovo. Image: AKTC / Cemal Emden

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Issam Fares Institute, Beirut, Lebanon. The IFI was established as a neutral, dynamic, civil, and open space where people can gather and discuss significant issues.

Issam Fares Institute, Beirut, Lebanon. The IFI was established as a neutral, dynamic, civil, and open space where people can gather and discuss significant issues. Image: AKTC / Cemal Emden

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Guelmim School of Technology, Morocco. Principally rough-rendered reinforced concrete, the buildings are linked by courtyards and walkways with metal and timber elements.

Guelmim School of Technology, Morocco. Principally rough-rendered reinforced concrete, the buildings are linked by courtyards and walkways with metal and timber elements. Image: AKAA / Fernando Guerra

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Casa-Port New Railway Station, Casablanca, Morocco. Modern mashrabiyya on the west facade acts like a screen between the city and the station to reduce direct sunlight.

Casa-Port New Railway Station, Casablanca, Morocco. Modern mashrabiyya on the west facade acts like a screen between the city and the station to reduce direct sunlight. Image: AKAA / AREP / Didier Boy de la Tour

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Makoko Floating School, Lagos, Nigeria. The prototype’s versatile structure is a safe and economical floating triangular frame that allows for customisation.

Makoko Floating School, Lagos, Nigeria. The prototype’s versatile structure is a safe and economical floating triangular frame that allows for customisation. Image: AKTC / NLE

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Doha Tower, Doha, Qatar. The tower is covered by a dome and offers a panoramic view on the Gulf, the desert and the city.

Doha Tower, Doha, Qatar. The tower is covered by a dome and offers a panoramic view on the Gulf, the desert and the city. Image: AKAA / Cemal Emden

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King Fahad National Library, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in a landscaped public square.

King Fahad National Library, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in a landscaped public square. Image: AKAA / Cemal Emden

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Thread: Artist Residency and Cultural Centre, Sinthian , Senegal. The gathering space is used for cultural and social activities.

Thread: Artist Residency and Cultural Centre, Sinthian , Senegal. The gathering space is used for cultural and social activities. Image: AKTC / Dev TV

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Nasrid Tower Restoration, Huercal-Overa, Spain.

Nasrid Tower Restoration, Huercal-Overa, Spain.

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Ceuta Public Library, Ceuta, Spain. The topography of the site is used to articulate the exterior form of the building.

Ceuta Public Library, Ceuta, Spain. The topography of the site is used to articulate the exterior form of the building. Image: AKTC / Cemal Emden

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19 shortlisted projects have been announced for the prestigious 2016 Aga Khan Award for Architecture on 9 May in Geneva, Switzerland. The projects, which were selected by the master jury from amongst 348 projects nominated, will be competing for US$1 million in prize money. 

The Aga Khan Award for Architecture is different from that of many other architecture prizes: it selects projects that not only exhibit architectural excellence but also improve the overall quality of life. Alongside rewarding architects, the award also identifies municipalities, builders, clients, master craftsmen and engineers who have played important roles in the realization of a project.

Since the awards programme was launched 39 years ago, over 110 projects have received the award and more than 9,000 building projects have been documented.

The 19 shortlisted projects are now undergoing rigorous investigations by on-site reviewers – architects, conservation specialists or structural engineers – who visit and evaluate each project. Their reports are the basis for the master jury’s selection of the eventual winners. 

The panel of judges for the 2016 awards included architects Emre Arolat and Dominique Perrault, as well as Mohsen Mostafavi, dean of Harvard’s Graduate School of Design, and Columbia University philosophy professor Akeel Bilgrami.

The shortlisted projects are below.

AZERBAIJAN

New Power Station, Baku by Erginoğlu & Çalışlar Architects

BANGLADESH

  • Bait Ur Rouf Mosque, Dhaka by Marina Tabassum
  • Friendship Centre, Gaibandha by URBANA/Kashef Mahboob Chowdhury

CHINA

Micro Yuan’er, Beijing by ZAO/standardarchitecture/Zhang Ke

DENMARK

Superkilen, Copenhagen by BIG

IRAN

  • Manouchehri House, Kashan by Akbar Helli, Shahnaz Nader
  • Tabiat Pedestrian Bridge, Tehran by Diba Tensile Architecture/Leila Araghian and Alireza Behzadi
  • 40 Knots House, Tehran by Habibeh Madjdabadi, Alireza Mashhadi Mirza

JORDAN

Royal Academy for Nature Conservation, Ajloun by Khammash Architects

KOSOVO

Bunateka Libraries, various locations by Bujar Nrecaj Architects

LEBANON

Issam Fares Institute, Beirut by Zaha Hadid Architects

MOROCCO

  • Guelmim School of Technology, Guelmim by Saad El Kabbaj, Driss Kettani, Mohamed Amine Siana
  • Casa-Port New Railway Station, Casablanca by AREP and Groupe 3 Architectes

NIGERIA

Makoko Floating School, Lagos by NLÉ/Kunlé Adeyemi

QATAR

Doha Tower, Doha by Ateliers Jean Nouvel

SAUDI ARABIA

King Fahad National Library, Riyadh by Gerber Architekten International

SENEGAL

Thread: Artist Residency and Cultural Centre, Sinthian by Toshiko Mori Architects

SPAIN

  • Nasrid Tower Restoration, Huercal-Overa by Castillo Miras Arquitectos
  • Ceuta Public Library, Ceuta by Paredes Pedrosa Arquitectos

For more information on the awards programme, see the Aga Khan Development Network website.


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