aga khan museum by fumihiko maki + studio adrien gardère

‘aga khan museum’ by fumihiko maki, toronto, canadaimage © maki and associates / imara wynford drive development inc.all images courtesy of studio adrien gardère

founded by his highness, the ‘aga khan museum’ in toronto, canada will be dedicated to islamic art in north america. pritzker prize winning japanese architect fumihiko maki and paris-based museographer studio adrien gardère have collaborated to produce part of a two building complex and corresponding interior spaces which highlight relics originating from spain, north africa, southeast asia and china. the collection will illuminate the beauty of religious traditions and the cultural societies around the world.

a prayer hall and formal garden will be joined by a structure for an auditorium, education center and restaurant. a central courtyard at the heart of the main structure is enclosed with glass panes that manipulate the lighting quality. the differing reflections subtly differentiate the encompassing continuous rooms by imparting an independent character that changes throughout the day. the scheme is envisioned as a precious stone with reflective properties of translucency and color variation for visual mystery. the project is expected to open in 2013.

aerial view of museumimage © maki and associates / imara wynford drive development inc.

museum spaces wrap a glass-enclosed courtyardimage © maki and associates / imara wynford drive development inc.

project info:

dates: 2011 – 2014client: aga khan museumlocation: toronto – canadaarchitect: fumihiko maki, 1993 pritzker architecture prize laureatemission: museography of all museum interior exhibition spaces.team coordination between multimedia mediation, signage, accessibility and light designsignage: cl designmultimedia: on-situlighting: ACLaccessibility: locomotionbuilding type: museum, auditoriumstructural system: reinforced concrete, steelnumber of floors: 1 basement + 2 storiessite area: 70,000m²building area: 4,000m²total floor area: 11,600m²museum area: 900 m2 of permanent exhibition halls, 700 m2 of temporary exhibition hallsarchitect of record: moriyama & teshima architectsstructural engineer: halcrow yollesmechanical / electrical engineer: the mitchell partnership / crossey engineering