New horse museum next to world’s grandest stables

Excerpt: At the end of the 19th century, in 1886, the Duke of Aumale, fifth son of King Louis-Philippe and last resident of the Chantilly Estate, donated his property – the château, hippodrome, stables, forest, Condé Museum, library and archives – to the French Institute under the condition that everything be maintained in its state.

The work on the rooms housing the museum and the Grand Stables is part of a $US3.3 million makeover led by the fourth Aga Khan.

The work he supported included desperately needed roof repairs and work to address problems with water seepage from the nearby lake.

The Chantilly Estate already attracts 160,000 visitors a year, drawn to its so-called “Live Horse Museum”, which is home to 30 breeds of horses, including 10-year-old Dilraj – the only Indian Marwari horse in Europe.

via Featured, News – Horsetalk.co.nz.
Related: CNN: Spiritual leader Aga Khan funds royal horse stables museum

Classical Architecture: Institute of the Arab World / Architect Jean Nouvel

This building was awarded the Aga Khan Award in 1989 – became a “bridge between French and Arabic cultures.”

Classical Architecture: Institute of the Arab World / Jean Nouvel | Architecture Platform.

CNN Video: Aga Khan’s ‘live horse museum’

His Highness the Aga Khan has won all over the world, including a record seven victories at the Prix de Diane

Transcript: CNN Interview on the inauguration of the Museum of The Horse, Francesca Cumani (Chantilly, France) http://www.nanowisdoms.org/nwblog/10536/

http://edition.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/sports/2013/06/14/winning-post-aga-khan.cnn.html
Related: Spiritual leader Aga Khan funds royal horse stables museum

Gardens of the World – The Ismaili Centre, South Kensington

Situated opposite the Victoria and Albert Museum and The Natural History Museum, on a prominent corner site, on one of the busiest roads in London – this was a difficult site to build a London centre for Ismaili Muslims

Yet, remarkably, Sir Hugh Casson’s design manages to pull it off. The exterior of the building is clad in white, light grey and blue granite, that slopes back at the top of its facades, and does not compete with its surroundings, despite its distinctly Islamic character. – it was opened by Margaret Thatcher in 1985.

via THE ISMAILI CENTRE, SOUTH KENSINGTON | Richard Jackson’s Blog.
http://www.theismaili.org/cms/807/The-Ismaili-Centre-London

Naguib Kheraj – A Blueprint for Better Business?

Naguib Kheraj is Vice Chairman of Barclays Bank plc. He was previously a Director and Member of the Group Executive Committee of Barclays PLC, where he served in a number of senior roles between 1997 and 2007 including Group Finance Director and various business line management positions in Wealth Management, Institutional Asset Management and Investment Banking.

Mr Kheraj was formerly Chief Executive Officer of JPMorgan Cazenove and has also held senior positions at Lazard, Robert Fleming and at Salomon Brothers in London where he started his banking career in 1986.

via Article-Naguib Kheraj / Speakers / Events / Home – A Blueprint for Better Business.

Dr. Liaquat Suleman Verjee discusses academic careers in plastic surgery

1998:  BSc (Hons) – Guy’s Hospital London (UMDS)
1995-2001:  MBBS – Guy’s Kings & St.Thomas’ Hospital Medical School)
2004:  MRCS – Royal College of Surgeon, England
2005-2006: Senior SHO in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
2006-2010: PhD – Kennedy institute of Rheumatology, Imperial College London
2010-current: Clinical Academic Lecturer, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

When did you decide to get involved in research and why?

As a junior surgical trainee I wanted to gain experience in formal scientific research and to work on a project with translational output. Whilst a plastic surgery SHO I was offered an exciting project under the supervision of Professor Jagdeep Nanchahal at the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology. This was at a time when research degrees were being discouraged. Now I have expertise in working at the interface between plastic and reconstructive surgery and basic science research

More ..BAPRAS – Liaquat Suleman Verjee.

Video: Prince Amyn speaks in honour of Professor Charles Correa at the Ismaili Centre, London

London, 16 May 2013 — At a special event held at the Ismaili Centre, Prince Amyn spoke in honour of the illustrious career of Professor Charles Correa, the globally acclaimed architect and planner, and acknowledged his long-standing partnership with the AKDN.
“Charles Correa is a major figure in contemporary architecture and urban planning, who has played a pivotal role in the creation of architecture in post-independence India,” said Prince Amyn to an audience that included guests from the fields of architecture, contemporary design and urban planning. “Through all these years, he has maintained his intellectual and moral commitment to the plight of the less favoured, and more generally, to the peoples of the developing world.”

Click here to watch: http://www.theismaili.org/cms/1443/Video-Prince-Amyn-speaks-in-honour-of-Professor-Charles-Correa-at-the-Ismaili-Centre-London

Tiles in Islamic and Portugese style at the Ismaili Centre in Lisbon

Islamic Tiles | Flickr – Photo Sharing!.

Prince Amyn speaks in honour of Professor Charles Correa at the Ismaili Centre, London

London, 16 May 2013 — At a special event held at the Ismaili Centre, Prince Amyn spoke in honour of the illustrious career of Professor Charles Correa, the globally acclaimed architect and planner, and acknowledged his long-standing partnership with the AKDN.

“Charles Correa is a major figure in contemporary architecture and urban planning, who has played a pivotal role in the creation of architecture in post-independence India,” said Prince Amyn to an audience that included guests from the fields of architecture, contemporary design and urban planning. “Through all these years, he has maintained his intellectual and moral commitment to the plight of the less favoured, and more generally, to the peoples of the developing world.”

This week sees the launch of a retrospective exhibition at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) in London, detailing Professor Correa’s signature projects over the past five decades. He is widely recognised in the field of urban planning not only for creating significant designs, but also for addressing social challenges through the medium of architecture.

via The Ismaili: Prince Amyn speaks in honour of Professor Charles Correa at the Ismaili Centre, London.
Earlier related: UK to honour top architect Correa with exhibition

Aga Khan Development Network plots within the Kings Cross development in London

#14 – #18 Purple.

Earlier related: Aga Khan Institute for King’s Cross
London: Aga Khan centre in King’s Cross Railway Lands talks
Fumihiko Maki to design Cultural Centre and University on King’s Cross

David Adjaye, Fashid Moussavi and Hanif Kara speak at Aga Khan Award briefing at the Ismaili Centre London

“[The Award] is not about money but about the intention to address issues. Sometimes other awards are looking at technical excellence or other specifics; here you are looking at how architecture impacts the built environment as a result. The projects you see are very fragile sometimes; it’s not always about lots of money. It’s about the client’s intention and the process.”

- Member Master Jury David Adjaye

A presentation was held on Thursday, 2 May at The Ismaili Centre in London by Farrokh Derakhshani, Director of the Aga Khan Award (attended by WAN’s Katerina Hojgrova) where David Adjaye, Fashid Moussavi and Hanif Kara spoke to eager journalists about their involvement in the programme. Hosted every three years, the Aga Khan Award for Architecture was established 36 years ago by the Aga Khan to indentify and encourage building concepts that successfully address the needs and aspirations of communities in which Muslims have a significant presence.

Over the years, more than 100 projects have been awarded winning status and over 7,500 individual schemes have been documented. These range from historic preservation to reuse and area conservation, landscape design to contemporary architecture, but all display exceptional design talent and a sensitive handling of context combined with a thorough understanding of the end user.

http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=22492

(In Portuguese) Presentation of the finalists of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture

Live Webcast: May 2 – A Companion to Muslim Cultures edited by Dr Amyn B Sajoo

The Institute of Ismaili Studies has announced a book launch for A Companion to Muslim Cultures edited by Dr Amyn B Sajoo.

Venue: Social Hall, The Ismaili Centre, 1 Cromwell Gardens, SW7 2SL, London
Date: 2nd May, 2013 - Time: 8:15 pm

Dr Sajoo will engage in an on-stage discussion with Raficq Abdulla about this latest publication in the Muslim Heritage Series.

The event will take place at 7:45 pm on Thursday 2nd May 2013. This event will be viewable live from the source website at 8:15 PM BST on the 2nd of May, 2013.

Source website: http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=113922
http://us.macmillan.com/acompaniontomuslimcultures/AmynBSajoo

Aga Khan Award for Architecture’s Master Jury reveals Shortlisted Projects for 2013 cycle

Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2013 Cycle Shortlisted Project Maria Grazia Cutuli Primary School Herat Afghanistan. More information.

Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2013 Cycle Shortlisted Project Rehabilitation of Nagaur Fort Rajasthan India. More information.

Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2013 Cycle Shortlisted Project Apartment No 1 Mahallat Iran. More information.

Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2013 Cycle Shortlisted Project Mapungubwe Interpretation Centre Limpopo South Africa. More information.

Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2013 Cycle Shortlisted Project Kantana Film and Animation Institute Thailand. More information.

Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2013 Cycle Shortlisted Project Thula Fort Restoration Yemen Africa. More information.

Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2013 Cycle Shortlisted Project Rehabilitation of Tabriz Bazaar Tabriz Iran. More information.

Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2013 Cycle Shortlisted Project Revitalisation of Birzeit Historic Centre Birzeit Palestine. More information.

Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2013 Cycle Shortlisted Project Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle Damascus Syria. More information.

Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2013 Cycle Shortlisted Project Preservation of Sacred and Collective Oasis Sites Morocco. More information.

Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2013 Cycle Shortlisted Project Post-Tsunami Housing Sri Lanka. More information.

Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2013 Cycle Shortlisted Project Umubano Primary School Kigali Rwanda. More information.

Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2013 Cycle Shortlisted Project Museum of Handcraft Paper Yunnan Province China. More information.

Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2013 Cycle Shortlisted Project Islamic Cemetery Altach Austria. More information.

Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2013 Cycle Shortlisted Project Hassan II Bridge Rabat Morocco. More information.

Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2013 Cycle Shortlisted Project The Met Tower Bangkok Thailand. More information.

Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2013 Cycle Shortlisted Project Salam Cardiac Surgery Centre Sudan. More information.

Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2013 Cycle Shortlisted Project Preservation of the Mbaru Niang Flores Island Indonesia. More information.

Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2013 Cycle Shortlisted Project Mohammed VI Football Academy Morocco. More information.

Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2013 Cycle Shortlisted Project Reconstruction of Nahr el-Bared Refugee Camp Tripoli Lebanon. More information.

http://www.akdn.org/architecture/awards_shortlisted.asp?tri=2013
https://www.facebook.com/AgaKhanAward
http://www.archdaily.com/367082/aga-khan-award-for-architecture-shortlist-announced/

Ismaili Centre London: Photographs by Salman Alwani

Earlier by Salman Alwani: Ormara Jamatkhana, Makran Coastal Area, Balochistan

A meeting between Farouk Verjee, Former President of the Aga Khan Ismaili Council for Canada, and Margaret Thatcher

Presidents of National Ismaili Councils around the globe are often invited to major functions and projects related to the Ismailis and the Ismaili Imamat, as community representatives for their respective countries, and Farouk Verjee was present for the historic opening of the London Ismaili Centre from which the following anecdote, with photo,  is published.

via Farouk Verjee, Former President of the Aga Khan Ismaili Council for Canada, Remembers Baroness Margaret Thatcher « SIMERG – Insights from Around the World.

Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2013 Cycle Shortlist Announcement

The members of the 1st cycle (1980) Steering Committee, chaired by His Highness the Aga Khan

Next Tuesday 30th of April, the Aga Khan Award for Architecture will be announcing the 2013 Cycle shortlisted projects, during a Press Conference in Lisbon, Portugal.

A second Press Conference will take place in London during the 2nd of May, where Farshid Moussavi (Steering Committee member), David Adjaye (2013 Master Jury Member), Hanif Kara (former Master Jury member) and Farrokh Derakhshani (Director of the Award) will present the Master Jury’s selection of projects to the media.

via https://www.facebook.com/AgaKhanAward.
Photograph: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php

London Ismaili Centre in South Kensington

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/

Margaret Thatcher remembered by Camp Hill woman who worked for her

“I found her to be very disciplined, very focused, a workaholic — but I use that term in the positive sense,” Gotwalt said. “She ate and slept politics, from time she started at the grassroots of her career. She stayed up until all hours writing a speech until it was the way she thought it should be.”

While Gotwalt said she knew Thatcher was in failing health, she still was surprised to learn of her death Monday morning. “Retirement was never in her vocabulary,” Gotwalt said, adding she had continued to travel, speak and work for many years.

Thatcher never called on the line Gotwalt answered as receptionist. “But I did receive some interesting calls on that line – when you picked up you never knew who was going to be on the line,” she said. “Joan Rivers called frequently,” Gotwalt said, since she was, surprisingly, a contributor to the foundation. “But the most interesting was the Aga Khan,” she said, referring to the leader of Ismaili Muslims.

via Margaret Thatcher remembered by Camp Hill woman who worked for her | PennLive.com.
Also read Baroness Margaret Thatcher (13 October 1925 – 8 April 2013) « SIMERG

Dr Farid Panjwani Appointed Director of the Centre for Research and Evaluation in Muslim Education

Qualifications and position: BBA, MBA, MA, DPhil

Senior Lecturer and Director, Centre for Research and Evaluation in Muslim Education

Faculty: Faculty of Children and Learning
Department: Department of Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment
Centre: CREME (Centre for Research and Evaluation in Muslim Education)

via Farid Panjwani – Institute of Education, University of London.

Also visit: The ‘Islamic’ in Islamic Education: Assessing the Discourse: Farid Panjwani assesses the dominant discourse on Islam and education that argues for an education derived from an exclusively ‘Islamic’ vision.