ABSTRACT
The various cycles of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture publish a holistic series of monographs and provide various platforms for discourse; these contribute immensely to a better and more lucid understanding of the evolving paradigm shift as to what the process of architecture actually entails. Fully cognisant that architecture is a complex process that requires appreciation of socio-cultural aspirations, the Award aspires to detach the architectural realm from conventional and inherited perceptions. Throughout its fourteen award cycles, the AKAA has striven to expand the scope of architectural practice, with an awareness to encompass projects that positively impact marginalised communities and protect vulnerable heritage. This broader notion of scope of architecture includes the latest six award-winning projects of the 2017–2019 cycle that are briefly discussed. This chapter highlights the Award’s mission to liberate the architecture of Islamic societies from the stylistic ‘isms’ and Western influences of the so-called orientalist views that were prevalent during certain periods of colonisation. It is argued that the Award not only seeks to decolonise building design and architecture, but to also continually underline and focus on pluralism and inclusion as marks of architectural excellence within Islamic societies, all of which are imbued with an astonishing fabric of rich historical and cultural contexts.
