Salina Kassam | https://www.canadianarchitect.com/a-contributing-community/
Media Source: Canadian Architect
Date: 5 May 2025
It has been nearly 12 years since the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada awarded His (Late) Highness the Aga Khan IV the RAIC Gold Medal, and 40 years since Bruno Freschi’s Ismaili Centre in Vancouver opened its doors for a then-fledgling Muslim community. The RAIC Gold Medal was duly awarded to acknowledge, in pa
It has been nearly 12 years since the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada awarded His (Late) Highness the Aga Khan IV the RAIC Gold Medal, and 40 years since Bruno Freschi’s Ismaili Centre in Vancouver opened its doors for a then-fledgling Muslim community. The RAIC Gold Medal was duly awarded to acknowledge, in part, a body of significant Canadian commissions spearheaded by the Aga Khan IV, including the Delegation for the Ismaili Imamat (Fumihiko Maki with Moriyama Teshima Architects, 2008) and Global Centre for Pluralism (KPMB Architects, 2017) in Ottawa, and the iconic Aga Khan Museum (Fumihiko Maki with Moriyama Teshima Architects, 2014) and the Ismaili Centre, Toronto (Charles Correa with Moriyama Teshima Architects, 2014). Supporting this legacy are Canada’s Ismailis, a committed group of Muslims dedicated to building dialogue within their respective communities and across the broader Canadian population. Clearly, the late Aga Khan IV’s impact on Canadian architecture and pluralism has helped build Canada’s national identity. Commissions like the Ismaili Centres, the Aga Khan Museum, and the Global Centre for Pluralism continue to symbolise an enduring commitment to diversity and cultural dialogue.