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The B2 House opens to the surrounding landscape; basic shelter becomes a space for the contemplation of nature. The ground floor is dominated by a large living room and the upper floor by two bedrooms. The jury noted: "B2 conveys a maximum amount of dignity, achieved with a minimum of means. It celebrates the act of contemplation, looking towards the distant horizon with openness and clarity."

Petronas Towers

Perhaps the most widely known project on this year's Aga Khan award list, the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, were designed by U.S. architect Cesar Pelli & Associates.

These towers are the centerpiece of the mixed-use Kuala Lumpur City Centre complex, set in the heart of the city's commercial district. Rising 1483 feet (452 meters), the towers were certified the world's tallest buildings by the Council of Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat in 1996.

The plan of each tower is derived from an Islamic pattern. Two interlocking squares form an eight-pointed star, modified by placing eight semicircles in the angles of the corners to create more floor space. The towers' construction made extensive use of local materials, and they have become the country's most significant urban landmark.

The awards jury commented: "The simple geometrical pattern that generates the plan not only uses space efficiently to maximize exposure to natural light, but also creates a rich spatial expression. The building has become an icon that expresses the sophistication of contemporary Malaysian society and builds on the country's rich traditions to shape a world city."

Sandbag Shelter Prototypes

With an eye toward the world's critical need for shelter, Iranian architect Nader Khalili has for years been developing construction methods that are solid, inexpensive, and fast to execute. At the Cal-Earth Institute, he perfected "Sandbag Shelters," or "super-adobe" system.

Khalili believes that the global need for housing — exacerbated by natural disasters, war, and social injustice — can be addressed only by using earth construction.

The basic construction technique involves filling sandbags with earth and laying them in circular courses that are corbelled near the top to form a dome. Barbed wire laid between courses prevents the sandbags from shifting and provides earthquake resistance. Ironically, it is the materials of war — sandbags and barbed wire — that bind together traditional earth architecture with contemporary safety requirements.   >>>

The Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, by architect Cesar Pelli & Associates, is one of seven projects honored by the 2004 Aga Khan Award for Architecture. Photo: Kamran Adle Entrance to Petronas Towers. Photo: Kamran Adle Inside the Petronas Towers. Photo: Kamran Adle Concert hall in the Petronas Towers. Photo: Kamran Adle Sandbag Shelters, by architect Nader Khalili are built of earth filled bags reinforced with barbed wire. Photo: Nader Khalili   Click on thumbnail images to view full-size pictures.