On 20 January, a joint Lecture Series was organised online by the AKU-ISMC and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture’s Education Programme with the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) and the Aga Khan Museum. Panelists highlighted innovations in materials, design and adaptation of local and traditional building practices to promote greener construction. Panelists from AKAH discussed their work on adapting and introducing green building elements in remote and vulnerable communities across South and Central Asia. Saif Ul Haque Sthapati, architect of the Arcadia Education Project, winner of the 2019 Aga Khan Award for Architecture, talked about the unique features of this modular, amphibious school complex designed to adapt to its river environment.

The Aga Khan Award for Architecture has named the President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA), Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, as member of its 15th edition, 2020-2022. Her project, the Revitalisation of Muharraq, won the 2019 Aga Khan Award for Architecture. Launched by His Highness in 1977, the Aga Khan Award for Architecture is an architectural prize aiming to identify and reward architectural concepts that successfully address the needs and aspirations of Muslim societies in the fields of contemporary design, social housing, community development and improvement, restoration, reuse and area conservation, as well as landscape design and improvement of the environment.