aga khan award for architecture 2013 winners

aga khan award for architecture 2013 winners revealed
islamic cemetery in altach austria by bernado bader architects
image © AKAA / adolf bereuter

on september 6th, his excellency, aníbal cavaco silva, president of the portuguese republic and his highness the aga khan, presented the 2013 aga khan awards for architecture at the castle of são jorge in lisbon. the five winning projects are: tamassociati’s ‘salam centre for cardiac surgery’, khartoum, sudan; riwaq (centre for architectural conservation) revitalisation of birzeit historic centre, birzeit, palestine; marc mimram architecture’s, rabat-salé urban infrastructure project, rabat, morocco; ICHTO east azerbaijan office’s ‘rehabilitation of tabriz bazaar’, tabriz, iran; and bernardo bader architects’s ‘islamic cemetery’ in altach, austria.

they were selected from a shortlist of 20 international projects by a jury composed of:
mr. david adjaye, principal, adjaye associates, london, united kingdom
dr. howayda al-harithy, professor, department of architecture and design, american university of beirut, lebanon
mr. michel desvigne, landscape architect and founder, agence michel desvigne, paris, france
professor mahmood mamdani, professor and executive director, makerere institute for social research (misr), wandegeya, uganda
mr. kamil merican, principal designer and ceo, group design partnership, kuala lumpur, malaysia
professor toshiko mori, principal, toshiko mori architect, new york city, USA
ms. shahzia sikander, artist, new york city, USA
mr. murat tabanlıoğlu, architect and founder, tabanlıoğlu architects, istanbul, turkey
mr. wang shu, architect and founder, amateur architecture studio, hangzhou, china

islamic cemetery, altach, austria by bernardo bader
image © AKAA / adolf bereuter

islamic cemetery, altach, austria by bernardo bader
the ‘islamic cemetery’ in altach, austria by bernardo bader architects was chosen by the master jury for the way in which it realised ‘the wish of an immigrant community seeking to create a space that fulfills their spiritual aspirations and, at the same, time, responds to the context of their adopted country.’ the project addresses the fact that until recently, some muslims in austria would send their deceased back to their countries of origin for burial. however, the desire for muslims to be buried in the countries of their birth has led to the creation of a multi-faith, multi-ethnic group of actors, including local authorities and an NGO to develop burial grounds where funeral rites could be administered locally.

salam centre for cardiac surgery, khartoum, sudan by tamassociati
image © AKAA / raul pantaleo

salam centre for cardiac surgery, khartoum, sudan by tamassociati
the ‘salam centre for cardiac surgery’ by tamassociati provides highly specialized care to patients affected by cardiological pathologies, and is managed and run by italian-based humanitarian organization, emergency NGO. the medical complex was not conceived as just a building, but as a system of structures and related spaces. the lot is located south of khartoum, overlooking the river nile. the centre is built as a pavilion with primary buildings organized around large courtyards. the hospital block has been realized with the highest technical standard with complex functions that include three operating theatres which are optimally positioned in relation to the diagnostics laboratories and ward. the hospital has 63 beds, and serves over 50,000 patients each year, drawing on a catchment area in eastern africa of over 300 million people. other programs include guest quarters for out-of-town patients, service areas, a pavilion for prayer and meditation suitable to all religions, and a medical compound made from shipping containers to house the centre’s staff–90 20-foot containers form the accommodation block, each unit consisting of 1.5 of these volumes, with a bathroom and small veranda facing the garden. seven 40-foot containers are occupied by cafeteria and services, with insulation provided through an ‘onion system’ of 5-centimetre internal insulating panels and an outer skin comprising of a ventilated metal roof and bamboo blinds. a solar farm powers the water-heating system.

salam centre for cardiac surgery, khartoum, sudan by tamassociati
image © AKAA / raul pantaleo

rehabilitation of tabriz bazaar, tabriz, iran by ICHTO east azerbaijan office
image © AKAA / amir anoushfar

rehabilitation of tabriz bazaar, tabriz, iran by ICHTO east azerbaijan office
officially protected in 1975, the ‘tabriz historic bazaar complex’ was covered by special stewardship measures until 2010 when it was added to the world heritage list. the revitalization project headed by ICHTO east azerbaijan office sees the establishment of three different protection areas: a nominated area, a buffer zone, and a landscape zone, subject to special regulations incorporated into the planing instruments. the complex covers an area of 27 hectares, with over 5.5 kilometres of covered bazaars. the realization and management framework of the project has been realized in collaboration between municipal authorities and ICHTO’s tabriz bazaar base. the tabriz bazaar is a unique example of urban conservation and development, whereby the preservation of heritage plays a key role in rejuvenating the tangible and intangible memory of the historic city.

rehabilitation of tabriz bazaar, tabriz, iran by ICHTO east azerbaijan office
image © AKAA / amir anoushfar

rabat-salé urban infrastructure project, rabat, morocco by marc mimram architecture
the ‘rabat-salé urban infrastructure project’ by marc mimram architecture links the moroccan cities of rabat and salé via the hassan II bridge, forming an urban hub, releiving the bustling historic sites and their inhabitants of atmospheric and sound pollution, and respects the horizontality of the built and natural environments. at the base of the structure are concrete supports of varying arched forms which offer a delicate and lace-like appearance. besides functioning as a main transport connection between the two cities, the bridge also provides a roof over the alluvial plain of the bouregreg river, creating a protected public space for markets and leisure activities.

revitalisation of birzeit historic centre, birzeit, palestine by riwaq (centre for architectural conservation)
image © AKAA / riwaq

revitalisation of birzeit historic centre, birzeit, palestine by riwaq (centre for architectural conservation)
riwaq‘s five-year project, part of a larger rehabilitation masterplan they initiated in the town of birzeit, palestine, has created employment through conservation, reviving forgotten traditional crafts in the process. the revitalization of the area has seen historic buildings and public spaces injected with new life, transformed into activity hubs for the community. replaced sections of wall remain distinguishable from the original structures without harming architectural coherence, and lost details, such as floor tiles with palestinian motifs, were restored to their former appearance. the project employed affordable techniques and local materials, and where no historical models were available, new elements were placed, made in bold contemporary spirit.

revitalisation of birzeit historic centre, birzeit, palestine by riwaq (centre for architectural conservation)
image © AKAA / riwaq