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Speech: Closing Remarks, Fourth Seminar, ‘Architecture as Symbol and Self-Identity’, AKAA
This seminar has been extremely helpful in providing the Steering Committee, and therefore me, with an understanding of the symbols of the city. I am not sure any one of us has a full understanding of what will be the symbols and the signs of the future generations that will lead the Islamic world. … Read more
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Speech: Address to the Asia Society – ‘The Physical Structure of Islam’
I told our [hospital] architect … that his idiom should reflect the spirit of Islam. How was this to be done? I did not want him to succumb, through nostalgia, to mimicry of the past, adding minarets and domes to his renderings — the sort of bogus orientalism that has produced Alhambra hotels and Ta… Read more
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Video Interview: BBC Radio 4 Interview
Well, in what matters then do you specifically intervene? What is your influence and authority? Read more
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Interview: The Age Interview – ‘Aga Khan: Enigma of East and West’
You make no claim to be divine. But do you believe you are divinely guided? Read more
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Interview: Sunday Telegraph Magazine Interview – ‘The Quiet Prince Of Islam’
I am not affected by suggestions in print that I live a luxurious Western life, while most Ismailis live in underdeveloped Eastern countries (he went on). These are just smears by cheap magazines. Serious publications are aware of the work we do and of our achievements in many countries. Such smear … Read more
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Speech: Closing Remarks, Third Seminar, AKAA
A major achievement of our seminar has been to highlight how very little is known of what is or might be appropriate housing for the Islamic world, and therefore appropriate for Muslims rather than for other peoples and cultures In talking about Islamic housing, we are not talking about housing for … Read more
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Speech: Opening Remarks, Third Seminar, ‘Housing Process and Physical Form’, AKAA
The present seminar, which has gathered some of the most eminent thinkers and policy makers in the field of housing, must address a much wider problem. We are looking to the seminar discussions for ways in which the Award for housing can encourage planners to seek new means of solving this great con… Read more
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Video Interview: CTV Canada AM Interview
One of the main causes we hear of the strife in Iran is that the Shah wants progress…. Many of the religious leaders in Iran are opposed to that. They think the conservative approach is best. You yourself are a modern man, Harvard educated, very much a Western oriented man in education and learning…. Read more
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Speech: Closing Remarks, Second Seminar, AKAA
The Aga Khan Awards, the first of which will be granted in 1980, will be substantial: $100,000 in each of five different categories for a potential total of $500,000 every three years. Their purpose is to make a strong and continuing impact on the architectural profession, on decision makers and on … Read more
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Speech: Opening Remarks, Second Seminar, ‘Conservation as Cultural Survival’, AKAA
All cultures naturally influence each other to a greater or lesser degree; the strongest are those in which the dominant elements remain dominant and refuse to be overwhelmed by external forces. They become stronger still when they retain the ability to select, to absorb that which invigorates and e… Read more