by ArchitectureWeek

Special architecture from all over the world, united by the common thread of serving Islamic peoples through design excellence, was honored in November at a ceremony held in Syria at the historic Citadel of Aleppo.

His Highness the Aga Khan, Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, announced the nine recipients of the 2001 Aga Khan Award for Architecture. A special Chairman's Award was presented to the Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa.

Informing the jury's evaluation were issues of environmental sustainability, social equality, cultural and historical heritage and identity, and human dignity.

The Nubian Museum

When the Aswan High Dam was opened in 1971, the northern lands of ancient Nubia, Egypt were flooded. In anticipation of the flooding, 40,000 people were resettled, and UNESCO's International Campaign to Save the Monuments of Nubia conducted a series of 40 archaeological expeditions over eleven years.   >>>

In the Nubian Museum, Egypt, one of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture winners, hand-textured local stone enhances the building's relationship to its site. Photo: Barry Iverson A portico shades the main door of the Nubian Museum from the Egyptian sun. Photo: Barry Iverson   Click on thumbnail images to view full-size pictures.