Bridge Builders Award
A unique program that promotes a better understanding of Islamic culture through the study of art, architecture and cultural heritage.
Understanding and appreciation of foreign cultures is essential to peaceful dialogue not only between countries, but between diverse members of our own communities. The Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture (AKPIA) has found a unique and powerful route to build connections and share values between cultures that often feel at odds with one another.
When seeking to understand cultures different than their own, anthropologists and laymen alike look to art and architecture as expressions of traditions, beliefs and ways of life. In this vein of thought, conversations began between his highness the Aga Khan and professors at both Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the late 1970s. By 1979, the AKPIA was established to support the study of Islamic urbanism, architecture and visual culture and is now a leading force in its field, consistently reaching beyond cultural and geographical barriers to emphasize the idea that art and architecture from the Muslim world is a vital piece of our common human heritage and a key to cultural understanding and exchange today.
The program strives to improve the teaching of Islamic architecture, to promote excellence in advanced research and to enhance the understanding of the Islamic built environment in light of contemporary theoretical, historical, critical and developmental issues. The Aga Khan carefully chose Harvard and MIT to host the curriculum, stating that “this program will not only utilize their immense intellectual resources for the benefit of scholars seeking to understand Islamic architecture, but also circulate this expertise among students, teachers and universities in Muslim and Western countries.”
Hosted by these two prestigious institutions, AKPIA is unmatched in providing resources to students, enforcing standards of excellence for professors and students alike, and promoting cultural examination. The program is taught by a core of five talented faculty specializing in Islamic architecture and art with visiting professors from related fields of study. To further enrich cultural exchange between the Islamic and Western worlds, AKPIA also hosts events open to the public. Lectures, conferences, exhibits and concerts explore Islamic traditions and promote the visibility of Islamic cultural heritage.
The caliber of research and publications produced through AKPIA has led to a meaningful dialogue of Islamic contributions to the field of architecture. AKPIA alumni have gone on to influential roles as art curators, academics, government officials, and practicing architects all over the world. Through the incredible resources and standards of research and debate, the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture ensures the pluralistic traditions of the Islamic culture will continue to play an ever-increasingly important role in academics and the practice of architecture around the globe.
For more information: The Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture