DOHA: Qatar's Souq Waqif is one of the 19 contenders in the prestigious Aga Khan Award for Architecture whose winners will be revealed in a ceremony to be held at the Museum of Islamic Art on November 24.
Souq Waqif has been described as a 'revitalisation project, a unique architectural revival of one of the most important heritage sites in Doha... aimed to reverse the dilapidation of the historic structures and remove inappropriate alterations and additions.'
The 164,000 sq m souq which is home to around 500 shops has become a famous tourist attraction for the fusion of traditional and modern elements such as its sophisticated lighting system.
"In complete contrast to the heritage theme parks that are becoming common in the region, Souq Waqif is both a traditional open-air public space that is used by shoppers, tourists, merchants and residents alike, and a working market," says a brief description of the project.
"This is the first time that the award ceremony will be held in a GCC country," Shamsa Rashid, Communications and Outreach Member told the local media yesterday.
Rashid said the 19 nominees from 16 countries were shortlisted from around 400 nominations from around the world.
The award, considered one of the most coveted architecture awards in the world, carries a cash prize of $500,000.
Though she did not elaborate on the criteria which were determined by a nine-member expert panel, some common features stand out among the finalists such as sustainability and environmental awareness.
"The award aims to inspire designers, architects, engineers municipalities, builders, clients and master craftsmen to erect buildings with social consciousness, not just iconic but has significant impact on the lives of the people in the communities they're in," she said. This is not the first time Qatar has become a finalist in the 11 cycles of the award. In fact Qatar National Museum won in the first cycle of the award back in 1980.
The other 18 nominees are from Albania, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tunisia and Turkey. The list is diverse and includes schools, residential buildings, centres, mosques, wetlands, heritage sites and a textile factory, among others.
Established in 1977, the award, which is held once every three years, is part of Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) which focuses on the physical, social, cultural and economic revitalisation of communities in the Muslim world.
AKTC is a one of the focus areas of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) founded by HH the Aga Khan, the 49th hereditary Imam (Spiritual Leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims. AKDN focuses on health, education, culture, rural development, institution building and promotion of economic development.
In Islam's ethical tradition, religious leaders not only interpret the faith but also have a responsibility to help improve the quality of life in their community and in the societies in which they live.
RAYNALD C RIVERA
© The Peninsula 2010
