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collage (digital photographs)

IAA710742

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digital collage

IAA711647

New in 2024: Sites

Nigeria

African Church Cathedral Bethel

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digital photograph

IAA705331

Egypt

A pilgrimage site, the mausoleum commemorates the founder of the Shafi’i rite of Sunni Islam, who died in Egypt in 820. Arguably Egypt’s most significant monument from the Ayyubid period (1171-1250), it contains the country’s oldest and largest wooden dome, magnificently decorated with stucco, and features later embellishments from the 14th-19th centuries including a rare Ottoman ceramic mosaic floor. Seeing its seriously deteriorated state, Megawra sought funding for its conservation. The resulting project - rigorously researched and documented - has remedied the subsidence and roof damage, restored crumbling masonry and stucco, re-secured marble wall panelling, and revived the exquisitely painted wood interior. Adhering to reversibility and minimum-intervention principles, it employed mostly traditional materials and skills, with occasional judicious use of modern techniques. Lighting and signage were also attended to. An ongoing project in the 19th-century southern annexe will provide an activity room, exhibition spaces including for excavation finds, and library. Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture

Al-Imam al-Shafi'i Mausoleum Conservation Project

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IAA703554

Pakistan

The Khilwat Khana Chambers are located directly below the Shah Burj forecourt and the Khilwat Khana Quadrangle of the World Heritage Site of Lahore Fort. The historic chambers cover an area of about 625m2 (6,727 ft2), with thirty-three or more interlinked rooms, passages and stairs defining the area. In 2007, the Government of Punjab (Gopb) and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) began a decade-long urban conservation initiative in the Walled City of Lahore. Since then, with the help of various donor agencies, Aga Khan Cultural Service Pakistan (AKCSP), in partnership with Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) have spearheaded many projects including the restoration of the Picture Wall, Summer Palace, and Royal Kitchens located in the World Heritage Site of Lahore Fort. In July 2022, an agreement between the Agence Francaise de Development (AFD) and the Government of Punjab was signed. As per the agreement, the general objective of the “Heritage and Urban Regeneration: Tourism Development in Lahore Fort and its Buffer Zone” project is to contribute to tourism development through heritage conservation, new facilities, and urban regeneration in the Lahore Fort. Amongst the first few components of the extensive project is the complete rehabilitation of the Sard Khana Basements. As per the masterplan for the Lahore Fort, which is simultaneously being developed, it is proposed that visitors be allowed to walk through a section of the Khilwat Khana basements, where some spaces will be equipped with audio-visual elements and other spaces will display information related to the history and evolution of the interlinked rooms and passages. The structures will be structurally consolidated and carefully conserved while also addressing significant water percolation and drainage concerns.

Khilwat Khana Restoration

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drone video/still

Khilwat Khana Quadrangle

Indonesia

Musholla is located in Pangandaran, a picturesque seaside town on the southwest coast of Java, known for its beautiful beaches, azure seas and lush jungles. It was designed by<a href="https://archnet.org/authorities/11487" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Erik Petrus</a>, a Czech architect whose designs strive to create architecturally elegant, iconic buildings with an atmosphere that evokes strong emotions. His goal is the "creation of unique and impressive structures that combine innovation with a sensitive approach to space and the inhabitants thereof. " Musholla is one of many projects Petrus has designed in Indonesia that combine modern architecture with local culture and the natural environment in this tropical nation. The goal is to create aesthetically appealing structures with an appealing atmosphere that leaves a lasting impression on visitors. A musholla , from the Arabic word مصلى, "musalla," literally meaning "place of prayer, is used for the five daily prayers and recitation of the Qur'an. It may be a dedicated space that is part of a larger structure such as an airport or office building, or it may be a dedicated structure that serves many of the same functions as a mosque but smaller. A musholla usually doesn't have a minbar for the Friday sermon (khutba) that is given in a mosque. Nevertheless, a musholla plays an important role within a community, not only providing space for prayer, but serving a community center in which people can gather for a variety of events. Indonesia today, the construction of a musholla for communities above a certain size is mandatory. This Musholla is located in Pangandaran, a picturesque seaside town on the southwest coast of Java, known for its beautiful beaches, azure seas, and lush jungles. The building is designed by<a href="https://archnet.org/authorities/11487" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Erik Petrus</a>, a Czech architect who works to create "architecturally elegant, iconic buildings with an atmosphere that evokes strong emotions. His goal is the creation of unique and impressive structures that combine innovation with a sensitive approach to space and the inhabitants thereof." It is one of many projects Petrus has designed in Indonesia that combine modern architecture with local culture and the natural environment in this tropical nation. He seeks to create familiar, comforting, yet strikingly innovative structures that leave a lasting impression on visitors. The Musholla of Pangandaran is located next to the De Residence Pangandaran complex that Petrus had previously designed. The investor who commissioned that project wanted to offer residents a building that would serve their spiritual and communal needs and express his gratitude for the successful completion of the neighboring residential complex. The Mushaolla serves as a community center where residents can come together to pray or participate in social activities. It has been enthusiastically received by the residents, who report that it is fulfilling its purpose as a spiritual and social center of the locality. The structure has a trapezoidal footprint divided into two parts: the communal prayer spaces and attached support facilities.&nbsp; Worshippers gather and enter the prayer hall via an outdoor covered walkway clad in perforated bricks that create a constantly varying interplay of light and shadow while also protecting those inside from direct sunlight. It leads to an elevated prayer space with a cylindrical dome. A tall, narrow, vertical window in the dome serves as a qibla. In addition to indicating the direction of prayer, the window illuminates the interior with natural light emanating from above the worshippers, a metaphor for heavenly light and the presence of God.&nbsp;The doors of the prayer room are made of teak wood. The second part of the structure is a two-story edifice. On the first floor, there is a kitchen and laundry facility for those living in the residential complex and the surrounding area. The caretaker's apartment is on the second floor. Source: <a href="https://www.archnet.org/authorities/11487" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Erik Petrus</a>

Musholla De Residence Pangandaran

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IAA710673

Malaysia

BackgroundThe Aga Khan Trust for Culture's (AKTC) cooperation with Malaysian institutions begun in 2013 and focused primarily on George Town, the historic portion of Penang nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008. The collaboration led to the preparation of a Strategic Master Plan (SMP) and advancement of action area planning in the town’s key public areas. Since 2015, following the establishment of the public/private George Town Conservation and Development Company (GTCDC), AKTC has worked with the State of Penang and Think City, contributing to the implementation of numerous, high-profile projects within the heritage site. Think City is currently exploring other opportunities and synergies with AKTC centred on Penang and Kuala Lumpur with the aim of providing state-of-the-art solutions to the rehabilitation of public open spaces, restoration and adaptive re-use of historic structures, museological initiatives and tourism-related developments. Of special relevance are the rehabilitation of Penang’s east seafront with the creation of a maritime museum in one of the site’s historic godowns, as well as general advice on the KL’s Dataran Merdeka precinct, with a focus on museological initiatives, and on the Creative District Strategic Master Plan. Awareness of the role of culture and cultural heritage is at the heart of the common approach of the joint Think City / AKTC collaboration. This is based on the belief that investment in cultural assets can provide a springboard for socio-economic development and meaningful employment in multiple sectors, while offering social and educational benefits by reinforcing a sense of belonging and solidarity within communities. To date, completed projects and initiatives in Penang include the rehabilitation of Armenian Park (2016), preparation of Conservation Management Plan for the 18th c. Fort Cornwallis (2016), the drainage upgrading of the Esplanade (2017), the restoration of the Fountain Garden on the south side of the Esplanade (2018), the reinstatement of two historic boulevards, China Ghaut and Lebuh Light, respectively in 2018 and 2019, the restoration of the mid-19th c. al-Attas Mansion (2021) and the rehabilitation and establishment of the seawall and public promenade along George Town’s seafront (2022-2023). The latter has been awarded the Excellence Award under the Professional Design Category, as well as the Preservation and Conservation Award for the 2024 Malaysia Landscape Architecture Awards (MLAA). In addition to its work in Penang, AKTC has also provided in the past technical and museological services for the rehabilitation and expansion of the National Museum in Kuala Lumpur (Muzium Negara). AKTC completed and presented the Muzium Negara Conservation Management Plan in November of 2016. Fort CornwallisFort Cornwallis acted as the cornerstone of the historic town and the frontier of power, economics and the early communities of colonial Penang. The significant values of the World Heritage Site arose from the relationship between the Fort and the realm around it. Initially, it was its defence system that allowed protection for the township and a sense of security for its growing population. South MoatBuried for&nbsp;over a century,&nbsp;the&nbsp;19th-century&nbsp;moat&nbsp;that once&nbsp;encircled&nbsp;Fort Cornwallis&nbsp;–&nbsp;one of&nbsp;Penang’s&nbsp;most famous landmarks&nbsp;–&nbsp;has been&nbsp;undergoing reinstatement&nbsp;along&nbsp;its&nbsp;southern&nbsp;and western sides.&nbsp;This latest effort follows the&nbsp;rehabilitation of the Seawall Promenade,&nbsp;completed in 2022&nbsp;and&nbsp;recognised with the Project of the Year 2024 Award from the Institute of Landscape Architects Malaysia. Restoration of the south moat will further enhance the North Seafront,&nbsp;designated&nbsp;as a priority conservation area within the UNESCO George Town World Heritage Site. The East India Company began constructing the moat in 1804 as a defensive measure during the Napoleonic Wars, and its historical significance is well-documented, with recent archaeological excavations confirming its original structure. In 1921, the moat was filled in part because of public health concerns following an outbreak of malaria, but mainly to facilitate the then planned demolition of the fort. Shortly after being filled, floods reported in the Esplanade revealed the moat’s crucial role as a reserve catchment area, protecting the Padang and the low-lying interior court of Fort Cornwallis from water overflow. Tourism is vital to Penang’s economy, and its UNESCO World Heritage Site status is a key draw. Hence, master planning of the entire heritage area – which accounts for visitor flow and commerce as well as site conservation – is of vital importance. Without its moat, Fort Cornwallis is incomplete. Reinstating it not only completes the monument’s historical narrative for future generations – offering locals and visitors a deeper connection to Penang's rich cultural heritage – but also expands public space and amenities in the central concourse area. The moat reinforces Penang’s environmentally conscious approach to urban design.&nbsp;The new water body and its surrounding landscape reduce the heat island effect and introduce a green habitat with associated wildlife in the heart of the historic area. This 4,000m2&nbsp;reservoir improves drainage in the nearby Esplanade and reduces flood risks during heavy rains. Natural aggregate filters and a plant-based bioretention swale reduce the risk of illnesses from stagnant water, which previously required the moat to be buried. The restored moat illustrates the synergies that can be achieved between urban planning, nature conservation and climatic change mitigation. The new ecosystem at the moat is evolving and brings new surprises every day. Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture

South Moat at Fort Cornwallis Restoration

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IAA703655

Designed for 4,500 worshippers and up to 7,000 on feast days, Al Islah is the only mosque serving the new town of Punggol in north-eastern Singapore.&nbsp;Muslims comprise 15% of the population in Punggol; integration within the community and welcoming non-Muslims to use the facility are factors in the architecture of this "open mosque", especially the notions of porosity, discretion, and harmony.&nbsp;The complex is conceived as a village cluster, the largest part of which is the prayer hall, along with separate facilities for administration and education, and all of it complemented by landscaped outdoor areas for community and recreational activities. Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture

Al Islah Mosque

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architectural drawing

IAA702825

Spain

While the first enclosure, completed in the 8th century, covered less than 0.56 ha, by the 11th the Great Mosque occupied 2.17 ha - a space large enough to accommodate 25,000 people. Torres Balbás indicated that this kind of walled patio with trees was only found in Al-Andalus, since mosques in other countries were never home to vegetation. The olive trees, orange trees and palms may have been introduced by Christians in the 13th century – hence the name still used today: El Patio de los Naranjos [the Orange Trees Patio]. The mosque patios seen by Münzer in Almeria and Granada a few years after the Christian conquest were all home to planted trees. Source:Leopoldo Torres Balbás. La Mezquita de Córdoba y las ruinas de Madinat al-Zahra, Madrid, 1952 p. 22.

Great Mosque Patio

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The courtyard from the minaret

The building that now houses Vibranium Valley was Originally commissioned on March 1, 1980, by the late Nigerian industrialist and philanthropist <a href="https://www.archnet.org/authorities/11380" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Chief MKO Abiola</a>, as a home for Concord Press Nigeria Limited. It is an example of the industrial building typology in Nigeria, standing prominently along Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road in <a href="https://www.archnet.org/authorities/4369" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lagos</a>. National Concord, one of the Nigeria's most influential media houses, symbolizing the power of journalism in Nigeria, was published at the site. In 1994, the building was sealed off for various reasons including political rivalry following the death of chief M.K.O Abiola. The building was dormant until 2011 when part of it was repurposed to serve a new generation of innovators <a href="https://archnet.org/authorities/11398" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Venture Garden Group</a> (VGG).&nbsp;The repurposed space was designed by Space Finish and called "Vibranium Valley," a name derived from the fictional metal in the Black Panther movies. It is a collaborative space that serves as an innovation hub. The decor is inspired by a unique fusion of African culture and modern technology. The space spans about 2,600 square meters with a height of about 9 meters. The entire building is divided into six bays, with the Vibranium Valley occupying two of the bays. Other pays are leased. In 2023, the Ministry of Architecture, the firm of Anthony Baba Oladeji, partially renovated the space. The interior design fuses the futuristic and culturally rich themes of the&nbsp;Black Panther&nbsp;movie with local motifs. Traditional African motifs, paintings, photographs, and cutting-edge technology are used in the decor to create an environment where creativity and innovation thrive.&nbsp; --Mobola Adegbesan, 15 September 2024

Vibranium Valley

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IAA703722

Saudi Arabia

Three vacation pavilions are located on a 1.5-hectare site on the slopes of the Sarawat mountains.&nbsp;The main two-bedroom pavilion is for the owner and his family, and the other two pavilions with sleeping mezzanines are for guests.&nbsp;An annex to the main pavilion contains a large kitchen and staff quarters, and a separate house is provided for the site caretaker.&nbsp;The load-bearing walls are made from hand-cut local granite that was also used for floors, pathways, and fencing; the vaulted and domed ceilings are constructed from fired brick.&nbsp;The foundations and mezzanine slabs are reinforced concrete.&nbsp;An underground rainstorm collection tank at the lowest point of the site provides irrigation. Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture

Al-Shafa Pavilions

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IAA703258

Afghanistan

The Bala Hissar complex, an iconic historical military base, embodies one of the most significant surviving historic structures and landscapes within the center of Kabul. Whilst the early origins of the Bala Hissar are still largely unknown, it is probable that a defensive or military settlement in some form has been present on the site as early as the pre-Achaemenid period (Bronze Age). During the first Anglo-Afghan war, a British force was garrisoned in the Bala Hissar to guard Shah Shuja, who had been installed as a compliant ruler. Following an uprising by rebels and the retreat and massacre of British Indian and Sikh forces in 1842, a punitive raid was mounted by a British expeditionary force, in what contemporary literary references termed the ‘War of Retribution’, under General Roberts, who razed much of the settlement in the lower enclosure, after which part of the upper citadel was destroyed by a munitions explosion before withdrawing to India. Almost 40-years later, the then Afghan ruler Sher Ali Khan was suspected by British politicians of seeking an alliance with Russia, which prompted an invasion and the start of the second Anglo-Afghan war (1878-1879). Along with the historic walls, this building was badly damaged during factional fighting that raged through this area in 1993/4. Most of the ruined structures were razed during the late 1990s. Whilst many of the internal structures of the Bala Hissar have been demolished or long since collapsed, much of the external defensive walls and towers on multiple elevations within both upper and lower sections of the citadel survive in varying states of disrepair and collapse. Historical neglect, extended periods of interfactional fighting, changes in occupation and use, and indifference to the importance of the monument and its setting has resulted in the current fragile state of the historic fabric. Therefore, during 2018 and 2019, the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) managed to secure resources to conduct some emergency stabilization activities, specifically on the dominant northeast tower and the interconnecting east and north elevations, which were on the verge of imminent collapse. The remaining structures of the citadel also require considerable attention but&nbsp;within a less pressing timescale. The conservation by AKTC aims to undertake vast archaeological studies and investigations providing essential information required for the successful implementation of emergency conservation in the Bala Hissar, whilst also potentially providing additional insights into the origins of the Bala Hissar’s foundation. Whereas, unearthed artifacts will be cleaned, prepared, and transferred to the National Museum of Afghanistan for further preservation/public display. In addition to the archaeological study, provisions have been made towards the establishment of a multipurpose ‘visitor center’ within the site enabling better access for visitors and effective management of the site as a ‘Heritage Park’ in the future. The long-term project would eventually see the whole Bala Hissar complex rehabilitated as Kabul’s largest public-managed open space and the city’s first designated ‘Heritage’ or ‘Archaeological Park’.

Bala Hissar Conservation

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