The program was titled, “Building for Change”, acknowledging the power of architecture to bring about meaningful change in communities. The purpose of the MoU is to deepen the relationship between the two institutions and further their efforts in promoting culture and pluralism, specifically through education and the role of architecture in improving the quality of human life.
These objectives will be achieved through collaborating on educational community outreach initiatives. Specific activities envisaged include academic exchange in the areas of mutual interest related to the agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network, its programs, and projects; showcasing the triennial shortlisted and winning projects of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture (AKAA) through a lecture and gallery exhibition; and hosting an annual Diversity and Pluralism lecture and workshop with an internationally renowned architect that showcases the role of architecture in promoting pluralism.
Kennesaw State University architecture students studied the architectural designs of the upcoming Ismaili Center Houston.
Have we ever wondered why architecture is so important for the society we live in? Is it only the holistically creative manipulation of mass, space, volume, texture, light, shadow, materials, program, and realistic elements such as cost, construction, and technology - or is it the labor and skills of the contractors and mechanics who build the building? If that were true, then every building would be architecture.
Architecture is the art that provides us with the physical environment in which we live. Architecture has always dealt with the gritty problems of here and now. But there is also a strong kinesthetic experience embedded in its DNA. There is a play upon the physical senses - air currents touching the skin, the sound of moving water, the touch of varied surface textures, the richness of color and the play of light and shade upon the vision, and the scent of plants in the courtyards are touches of the paradise to come. As Mawlana Hazar Imam points out “great architecture, like great art, captures esoteric thought in a physical form.”
Founded in Ottawa by Mawlana Hazar Imam, in partnership with the Government of Canada, The Global Centre for Pluralism is an independent, charitable organization. It aims to foster greater understanding through research, education, and dialogue. It aspires to chart policies and practices that support pluralism. The architectural marvel that it is, the center not only achieves aesthetic, functional, and artistic workmanship but also the spirit of the interconnected and interdependent world in which we live.
As Mawlana Hazar Imam puts it so aptly, “A pluralist, cosmopolitan society is a society which not only accepts difference but actively seeks to understand it and to learn from it. In this perspective, diversity is not a burden to be endured, but an opportunity to be welcomed.” He views pluralism as an “indispensable foundation for human peace and progress.”
Kennesaw State University architecture students studied the architectural designs of the upcoming Ismaili Center Houston.
The attendees of the program at Kennesaw State University also learned about Ismaili Centers around the world and viewed the architectural designs of the upcoming Ismaili Center in Houston. This Center will acknowledge the Ismaili community’s 1,400-year history, its tradition of serving others, as well as its aspirations in the United States. In addition, its presence serves as an architectural marvel in “letter” and an ambassadorial “visiting card” in “spirit.” Its design represents a confluence of architectural prowess and continual dialogue between the past and the present while looking to the future.
The Imam’s vision of the power and impact of architecture serves as an anchor that spears beyond time and space. With both the Ismaili Center Houston and the Global Centre for Pluralism serving as shining beacons of hope for our community, we can take these spaces to indulge in both inter - and intra-communal resurgence of mutual understanding, respect, and promise. The signing of this MoU is a testimony to that promise for a true pluralistic future that awaits us.
