In the ever-evolving world of architecture, few accolades carry the weight and vision of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture (AKAA). Founded in 1977 by His Highness the Aga Khan, the award has become a global benchmark for excellence, celebrating designs that go far beyond form and function. It champions works that directly serve the cultural, social, and environmental needs of societies, particularly where Muslims have a significant presence.
With the 2025 shortlist now revealed, the spotlight turns to nineteen remarkable projects from across the globe, each offering a unique take on how built environments can reflect tradition while embracing innovation.
What Sets the AKAA Apart
Unlike many high-profile design awards that focus predominantly on aesthetics or cutting-edge innovation, the AKAA takes a broader, more meaningful view. At its heart, this triennial prize honors architecture that enriches lives, projects that are socially responsive, environmentally attuned, and deeply respectful of local heritage and context.
Backed by a prize fund of $1 million, among the most generous in the architectural world, the AKAA tends to highlight efforts that might otherwise be overlooked, especially in the Global South and within Muslim-majority regions. It’s a celebration of buildings, ideas, people, and the stories they tell through space.
The 2025 Shortlist
The 2025 shortlist comprises 19 projects, reflecting a remarkable geographic and typological diversity. These projects span sixteen countries, including Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Palestine, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan, among others. The selection process, overseen by an independent Master Jury, emphasizes architectural merit and the broader impact of each project on its community and environment.
Here’s a closer look at these exceptional projects and the architects shaping them:
1. Khudi Bari, Bangladesh
Architect: Marina Tabassum Architects
A minimalist, low-cost housing solution designed for communities vulnerable to climate displacement. Built from lightweight materials and easily relocatable, Khudi Bari (meaning “small house”) stands as a poetic and practical response to Bangladesh’s rising sea levels.
2. West Wusutu Village Community Centre, China
Architect: Zhang Pengju
West Wusutu Village Community Centre at the edge of the Gobi Desert blends earth-based construction with minimalist forms to foster community engagement. Its hand-rammed walls and use of local labor reconnect architecture with land and people.
3. Revitalisation of Historic Esna, Egypt
Architect: Takween Integrated Community Development
This urban renewal project reawakens Esna’s heritage, restoring key architectural elements and public spaces in the historic city center. Beyond conservation, it sparks tourism, crafts revival, and civic pride.
4. The Arc at Green School, Indonesia
Architect: IBUKU / Elora Hardy
The Arc at Green School in Bali is a stunning feat of bamboo architecture. The Arc features a soaring, rib-like structure that merges elegance and sustainability. It redefines what educational spaces can look like organic, open, and radically green.
5. Islamic Centre Nurul Yaqin Mosque, Indonesia
Architects: Dave Orlando and Fandy Gunawan
A modern mosque that balances simplicity with symbolism, designed to serve both as a spiritual space and a community hub. The Islamic Centre Nurul Yaqin Mosque project integrates natural light and clean geometry, fostering quiet introspection.
6. Microlibraries, Indonesia
Architects: SHAU (Daliana Suryawinata & Florian Heinzelmann)
Microlibraries are a collection of environmentally friendly reading facilities of less than 250 square meters that have been created in kampung (urban Village) and park settings around Indonesia to serve as public spaces of identification and community. An ongoing public initiative turning small, often overlooked spaces into vibrant community libraries.
View of the east and south facades of Warak Kayu © Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Andreas Perbowo Widityawan
7. Majara Complex and Community Redevelopment, Iran
Architect: ZAV Architects / Mohamadreza Ghodousi
A colorful cluster of domed structures in Hormuz Island, Majara, is known as the ‘rainbow island’ for its multicoloured mountains. It’s a socio-economic catalyst empowering residents through architecture and employment.
Majara Complex and Community Redevelopment, Iran by ZAV Architects / Mohamadreza Ghodousi, Vaulted and domed structures © Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Deed Studio
8. Jahad Metro Plaza, Iran
Architect: KA Architecture Studio
Arched vaults provide a strong visual link between the floors. Transforming a neglected urban void into a layered civic space, Jahad Metro Plaza rethinks public infrastructure. It connects Tehran’s metro with surrounding neighborhoods, bringing light, greenery, and life to a once-forgotten corner.
Jahad Metro Plaza © Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Deed Studio
9. Khan Jaljulia Restoration, Israel
Architect: Elias Khuri
The Khan Jaljulia Restoration is a Palestinian historical heritage site. The restoration of a 14th-century caravanserai in Jaljulia becomes an act of cultural preservation and reclamation. This sensitive intervention revives traditional masonry while opening the space for educational and community use.
Khan Jaljulia Restoration, Israel by Elias Khuri © Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Mikaela Burstow
10. Campus Startup Lions, Kenya
Architect: Kéré Architecture (Francis Kéré)
Set in the arid landscape of Turkana, this IT campus empowers local youth with digital skills. The building uses local stone, natural ventilation, and shaded courtyards to create a sustainable and inspiring learning environment. The Campus Startup Lions houses classrooms, collaborative workspaces, and computer labs.
View of the southern facade: an educational and entrepreneurial hub on the shores of Lake Turkana. © Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Christopher Wilton-Steer
11. Revitalisation of Lalla Yeddouna Square, Morocco
Architects: Mossessian Architecture and Yassir Khalil Studio
In the heart of Fez’s medina, the Revitalization of Lalla Yeddouna Square breathes new life into a key urban node. Combining traditional craft with contemporary public space design, the project enhances walkability, economy, and civic life.
Revitalisation of Lalla Yeddouna Square, Morocco by Mossessian Architecture and Yassir Khalil Studio. © Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Amine Houari
12. Vision Pakistan, Pakistan
Architects: DB Studios / Mohammad Saifullah Siddiqui
A forward-thinking project blending inclusive design and technological innovation to create equitable educational and health spaces. Some windows have colourful perforated metal screens (jaali), which provide sun shade and privacy while adding a festive touch to the sharp concrete walls. Influenced by both Pakistani and Arab crafts, as well as the 1960s architecture of Islamabad, the geometric designs feature colors reminiscent of the local vernacular, chosen to convey a sense of optimism.
Vision Pakistan, Pakistan by DB Studios / Mohammad Saifullah Siddiqui. © Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Usman Saqib Zuberi
13. Denso Hall Rahguzar Project, Pakistan
Architect: Heritage Foundation of Pakistan / Yasmeen Lari
A heritage-led urban intervention in Karachi that turns neglected historic pathways into walkable, green, and safe public spaces. The Denso Hall Rahguzar Project design reflects Yasmeen Lari‘s ongoing commitment to barefoot social architecture.
14. Wonder Cabinet, Palestine
Architects: AAU Anastas
A cross between a gallery and a research space, the Wonder Cabinet project reimagines exhibition design with local stone construction and geometrically expressive forms. It’s both an architectural statement and a spatial narrative.
15. The Ned Hotel, Qatar
Architect: David Chipperfield Architects
Once the Ministry of Interior, the Ned Hotel in Qatar, a brutalist building, has been transformed into a boutique hotel while preserving its strong architectural identity. The adaptive reuse celebrates heritage without erasing its modernist roots.
16. Shamalat Cultural Centre, Saudi Arabia
Architects: Syn Architects / Sara Alissa, Nojoud Alsudairi
Shamalat Cultural Centre is rooted in local tradition and designed for community ownership. Using earth-based construction and organic forms, the center fosters arts, education, and environmental awareness in rural Tabuk.
17. Rehabilitation and Extension of Dakar Railway Station, Senegal
Architect: Ga2D
The rehabilitation and Extension of the Dakar Railway Station project modernizes Dakar’s historic train station while respecting its original colonial architecture. The renovation merges mobility with cultural experience, serving as both a transport hub and an urban landmark.
18. Rami Library, Türkiye
Architect: Han Tümertekin Design & Consultancy
A historic military warehouse in Istanbul is reborn as a monumental public library. Through subtle interventions and careful restoration, the space invites quiet study, cultural programming, and community connection.
19. Morocco Pavilion, Expo 2020 Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Architect: Oualalou + Choi
A standout at Expo 2020, this pavilion combines rammed earth construction with poetic storytelling. It embodies the material and metaphysical richness of Moroccan identity while addressing ecological sustainability.
One of the hallmarks of the Aga Khan Award is its rigorous and hands-on evaluation method. An independent Master Jury, comprised of architects, urbanists, academics, and artists, personally visits each shortlisted site.
The 2025 shortlist is a vivid snapshot of a discipline in conversation with its past, responsive to present needs, and cautiously optimistic about the future.
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