Her Excellency Sheikha Mai participates in the Celebrations of the 15th Cycle of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in Muscat
As part of the closing programme of the Aga Khan Award in its 15th cycle, which took place in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, Her Excellency Sheikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH) and member of the Steering Committee of the Award, participated in the award winners’ symposium, which was held 30 October 2022 at the Hotel Al Bustan Palace under the patronage of His Highness Sayyid Dr Fahd bin Al Julanda Al Said, President of Sultan Qaboos University.
Her Excellency Sheikha Mai gave a speech on behalf of the Steering Committee, in which she confirmed that the committee sought to shed light on the projects that look forward to the future, noting that all the projects shortlisted for the award are architectural icons worthy of celebration, but only six projects were selected. She addressed the winners by telling them that winning the Aga Khan Award for Architecture is the beginning of the road to creating a better future. She explained that the members of the Steering Committee worked for three years, and among its tasks was the selection of the jury composed of architects, restoration experts, artists, and thinkers from all over the world to study over 400 projects nominated for the 15th award cycle.
The symposium featured a film screening on the Aga Khan Award for Architecture and the six winning projects. In light of these projects, several topics were discussed as ways of architecture’s contribution to improving the level of societies, the social effects of architecture, and the functional impact of those projects.
Her Excellency Sheikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa also attended the awards ceremony on 31 October 2022 under the patronage of His Highness Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, at the House of Musical Arts at the Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) in Oman, Muscat.
This year, six projects from various countries, including Southeast Asia to West Africa, won the Aga Khan Award for Architecture. The Arab countries were able to enter the award winners’ projects through the “Renovation of Niemeyer Guest House” in Tripoli, Lebanon. In its 15th cycle, the award announced the entry of 20 shortlisted projects from 16 countries, while more than 450 projects were submitted worldwide.
The Aga Khan Award for Architecture was established in 1977 and is awarded every three years for architectural projects that offer new levels of excellence in architecture, planning practices, historic preservation efforts and landscape architecture. The projects nominated for the award can be anywhere in the world, but they must meet the needs and aspirations of societies where Muslims have a significant presence. Since the award was launched, 9000 projects have been documented.
