The Aga Khan Award for Architecture has officially unveiled the Master Jury for its 2025 cycle, marking the beginning of a highly anticipated process of selecting innovative and impactful architectural projects worldwide. This prestigious award, known for recognizing architectural excellence with a strong emphasis on cultural, social, and environmental contributions, brings together experts from diverse backgrounds to evaluate and honor projects that truly make a difference.
Introducing the 2025 Master Jury
The 2025 Aga Khan Award for Architecture Master Jury consists of nine distinguished professionals from around the world, each bringing a unique perspective to the selection process. These experts come from various fields, including architecture, art, urban planning, and philosophy. Notable members include Azra Akšamija, a professor at MIT; Yvonne Farrell, a renowned architect from Ireland; and David Basulto, founder of ArchDaily.
These esteemed professionals will collaborate to assess projects submitted from across the globe, ultimately selecting winners who will share in the award’s $1 million prize. Their expertise ensures a comprehensive evaluation process that goes beyond aesthetics, considering how architecture can impact communities, cultures, and the environment.
The Selection Process: What to Expect
The Master Jury will convene for the first time in January 2025 to begin reviewing hundreds of nominations. These nominations will come from diverse regions and represent architectural works that prioritize sustainability, cultural significance, and innovative use of resources. After this initial review, the jury will shortlist several projects for further evaluation.
What sets the Aga Khan Award apart is its rigorous on-site review process. Independent experts, including architects, engineers, and conservation specialists, will visit the shortlisted projects to assess their real-world impact. The jury will then reconvene in the summer of 2025 to consider these detailed reports and select the final award recipients.
Architecture That Inspires Global Change
The Aga Khan Award for Architecture has always prioritized projects that not only meet physical and economic needs but also inspire cultural and social change. This focus ensures that the winning projects reflect an understanding of the communities they serve. Projects that use local resources and appropriate technologies in creative and innovative ways will be given special attention.
The award seeks to celebrate architecture that stimulates broader movements toward sustainability and cultural preservation, with the hope that these projects will inspire similar efforts around the world. By honoring these works, the Aga Khan Award encourages a deeper connection between architecture and societal progress.
Steering Committee and Broader Goals
The Aga Khan Award for Architecture is overseen by a Steering Committee chaired by His Highness the Aga Khan, with prominent members such as Hashim Sarkis, Dean of the School of Architecture at MIT, and Lesley Lokko, founder of the African Futures Institute. This committee ensures the award stays true to its mission of celebrating architecture that uplifts communities while preserving cultural heritage.
Part of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), the award integrates architectural excellence into broader development strategies. AKTC’s work includes preserving historic cities and engaging in educational outreach, ensuring that architecture remains a central part of global cultural discourse. By supporting architecture that contributes to society in meaningful ways, the Aga Khan Award continues to foster a future where design serves humanity.
Conclusion
With the announcement of the 2025 Master Jury, the Aga Khan Award for Architecture is poised to once again spotlight projects that blend beauty, sustainability, and cultural impact. The upcoming cycle promises to uncover innovative works from across the globe that respond to contemporary challenges while honoring cultural heritage, setting the stage for a new era in architecture.