Iranian Innovations Illuminate the 2025 Aga Khan Award for Architecture
TEHRAN – Two remarkable projects from Iran have been awarded the prestigious 2025 Aga Khan Award for Architecture, a prominent recognition in the architectural world. The winners, selected from a global pool of innovative designs, include the Majara Complex and Community Redevelopment on Hormuz Island, crafted by ZAV Architects, and Jahad Metro Plaza in Tehran, designed by KA Architecture Studio.
The Majara Complex is a key component of the “Presence in Hormuz” initiative, an ambitious cultural and social development program aimed at revitalizing the island’s economy through eco-tourism and community-centered design. This project brings together cultural development and local employment opportunities through the use of earth-based dome construction that echoes the island’s vibrant landscapes.
Notably, the Majara Complex offers:
- Visitor accommodation and artist residencies
- Restaurants and workshops
- A library and prayer spaces
Previous initiatives like the Rong Cultural Center and Ozar mobile cinema have also provided venues for cultural exchange. Beyond its architectural significance, the Majara Complex has created essential job opportunities, transformed the landscape into a living symbol of resilience, and established a framework for tourism and social engagement in a region historically marked by economic challenges.
In a striking contrast, the second Iranian project, Jahad Metro Plaza, reimagines a central urban intersection in Tehran, transforming a metro entrance into a lively pedestrian hub. This innovative design features a vaulted structure that draws inspiration from traditional Iranian brickwork.
The key features of Jahad Metro Plaza include:
- Constructed within seven months using modular steel-mesh frameworks
- Utilization of handmade local bricks
- Design that provides shade and light-filled gathering areas
This space not only facilitates social activities and performances but also integrates areas for street vendors, making it a vibrant urban center that reflects the evolving identity of Tehran.
Along with the Iranian projects, other notable winners from countries such as Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Pakistan, and Palestine were also recognized. Collectively, the seven winning projects will share a substantial prize of $1 million, one of the most significant accolades in architecture today.
Among the other winners, the Khudi Bari (Little House) project from Bangladesh, designed by Marina Tabassum Architects, stands out as an affordable and adaptable housing solution for char communities vulnerable to floods and river erosion. Constructed from bamboo, steel connectors, and corrugated tin, these modular homes can be assembled in just three days and disassembled in hours.
From China, architect Zhang Pengju received accolades for the West Wusutu Village Community Center in Inner Mongolia. This project revitalizes the ruins of a former Buddhist temple, creating a dynamic cultural hub primarily constructed from salvaged bricks. The center features an off-centered courtyard, roof terraces, and flexible spaces for activities such as mahjong and pottery, significantly enhancing village life and driving local economic growth through tourism and hospitality.
In Egypt, the award winner was the Revitalization of Historic Esna by Takween Integrated Community Development. This project has safeguarded Esna’s rich urban heritage, which spans Graeco-Roman, Islamic, and Ottoman eras, through a careful process of urban acupuncture.
Pakistan’s representation came through Vision Pakistan, designed by Mohammad Saifullah Siddiqui in Islamabad. This vocational training facility offers literacy, tailoring, and life skills to young men in need, featuring classrooms, exhibition halls, shops, and prayer spaces. Built with modest resources but intricate detailing, the facility now trains 40–50 students annually, serving as a model for sustainable, community-driven education.
In Palestine, AAU Anastas won recognition for the Wonder Cabinet in Bethlehem, a cultural and educational hub focused on preserving Palestinian craft traditions. The building, characterized by its bold concrete frame and transparent façades, prioritizes process over form, housing workshops, artist studios, a radio station, and performance spaces. Local artisans played a crucial role in shaping the project, ensuring it serves both contemporary arts and local livelihoods.
The 16th Award Cycle (2023–2025) of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture was announced following extensive site reviews earlier this year. The jury emphasized the winners as exemplars of architecture’s ability to promote resilience, pluralism, and optimism in an era of global uncertainty. The award ceremony is scheduled for September 15 at the Toktogul Satylganov Kyrgyz National Philharmonic in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Moreover, the Aga Khan Award celebrates not only architects but also municipalities, clients, engineers, and artisans involved in each project. A forthcoming publication titled “Optimism and Architecture,” edited by Lesley Lokko, will showcase the awarded and shortlisted projects while placing them within broader global discussions on tradition, innovation, and inclusivity in architecture.
Established in 1977 by the late His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, the Aga Khan Award for Architecture aims to recognize and encourage projects that address social and economic needs while also responding to cultural aspirations. Over its 16 cycles, it has honored 136 projects and documented nearly 10,000 building initiatives worldwide, providing a rich record of how architecture can serve humanity across diverse contexts.
