top of page
Search

Pakistan Wins Aga Khan Award 2025 for Vision Pakistan Project

Pakistan has made history at the Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2025 with the Vision Pakistan Project, based in Islamabad. This victory not only celebrates architectural excellence but also highlights the power of design in transforming communities.

picture of a building

About the Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2025

The Aga Khan Award for Architecture (AKAA) is one of the world’s most prestigious awards in architecture, established in 1977 by His Highness the Aga Khan. The award recognizes projects that go beyond aesthetics to address social impact, cultural heritage, and sustainability in communities with a significant Muslim presence.

In its 16th cycle (2023–2025), the award selected seven global winners, including Vision Pakistan from Islamabad, making it a proud milestone for the country.

What Is Vision Pakistan?

Vision Pakistan, designed by De Beyond Studios, is a multistorey educational and social facility that supports marginalized youth in Islamabad. The project accommodates 40–50 students and staff, featuring:

  • Flexible classrooms, dining, and recreation areas

  • Dedicated exhibition halls

  • Limited staff accommodation

  • A rooftop prayer space and a student-managed kitchen garden

At the heart of the building is a naturally lit central atrium, anchored by a tree that symbolizes growth and resilience. Traditional jaali (pierced screens) offer privacy and shade, referencing local craftsmanship and Islamabad’s modernist architecture of the 1960s.

The jury praised the project as “full of light, spatially interesting, and economically efficient”—a design that inspires hope and empowerment.

Why Vision Pakistan’s Win Matters for Pakistan

  • First win in decades: This is the first time since 1998 that Pakistan has won the Aga Khan Award, marking a historic comeback.

  • Socially impactful design: Vision Pakistan proves that architecture in Pakistan can be a tool for education, empowerment, and inclusion, not just aesthetics.

  • Global recognition: By sharing the $1 million prize with projects from Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Iran, and Palestine, Pakistan showcases its architectural relevance on the world stage.

Aga Khan Award 2025 Winners

Alongside Pakistan’s Vision Pakistan, other winners of the 2025 cycle include:

  • Khudi Bari – Bangladesh

  • West Wusutu Community Centre – China

  • Wonder Cabinet – Palestine

  • Projects from Egypt and Iran

This highlights the award’s focus on contextual, community-driven, and sustainable architecture.

Ceremony and Publication

The Aga Khan Award 2025 ceremony will be held on 15 September 2025 at the Kyrgyz National Philharmonic in Bishkek. In addition, the book Optimism and Architecture, edited by Lesley Lokko, will feature winning and shortlisted projects, including Vision Pakistan, to inspire architects and designers worldwide.

A New Vision for Pakistani Architecture

The success of Vision Pakistan is more than an architectural achievement—it is a statement that Pakistani architecture is evolving with purpose, empathy, and innovation.

By winning the Aga Khan Award 2025, Pakistan has proven that architecture can:


 
 
 

Comments

 © 2019 ORAD

bottom of page