Improving The Built Environment In The Muslim World

On January 25, 2005, the National Building Museum will present the fifth Vincent Scully Prize to His Highness The Aga Khan, the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, and a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. Over the past 27 years, His Highness The Aga Khan has advanced design excellence in countries where Muslims have a definitive presence. In 1977, he launched the world's largest prize for architecture, the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 1977 to recognize exemplary work in the built environment that meets social development needs in Muslim countries. In 1988, he established the Aga Khan Trust for Culture to support the conservation and revitalization of culturally significant Islamic sites. The National Building Museum, based in Washington, DC, has awarded the Vincent Scully Prize since 1999 to recognize exemplary practice, scholarship or criticism in architecture, historic preservation and urban design.

Thanks to Deborah Myerson