Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat
The Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, a building of the Aga Khan Foundation Canada located between the Saudi Arabian embassy and the Lester B. Pearson Building on Sussex Drive. It was opened in 2008.
The building was initiated by the Aga Khan IV, the 49th Imam of the Ismaili Muslims in the presence of Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General of Canada on June 6, 2005.[1] It was designed by the internationally-celebrated Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki, together with the Canadian firm Moriyama & Teshima.[2][3][4]
The Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat was formally opened by Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Saturday, December 6, 2008 during an official visit of the Aga Khan to Ottawa.[5] In addition to the Prime Minister, the opening was also attended by several federal ministers including Transport Minister John Baird, Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon and Minister of State for Status of Women Helena Guergis. Also in attendance were former Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, writer John Ralston Saul, David Mulroney, chief of the PCO Afghan task force, his CIDA counterpart Stephen Wallace, former deputy minister of foreign affairs Peter Harder, the Governor of the Bank of Canada, Chief Justice of Canada Beverley McLachlin, former ambassador to Washington Derek Burney, former Liberal foreign minister Bill Graham, former ambassador to the UN Allan Rock, Herb Gray, the longest serving MP in Canadian history and various ambassadors of other countries to Canada.[6][7]
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[edit] Architecture
Designed by the Pritzker Prize winning architect Fumihiko Maki,[8] the Ottawa Delegation is the first building in the world that will represent the Ismaili Imamat and its institutions.[3] It is configured as an elongated, rectangular ring, surrounding an interior atrium and an exterior courtyard that features a traditional Chahr-bagh Islamic garden.[2][1] The building rests on a solid linear granite podium, and is covered by a glass dome through which light illuminates the atrium and courtyard.[1] The building as a whole is inspired by natural rock-crystal and is an interplay of visual clarity, opacity and translucency. It houses meeting rooms, exhibition areas, a lecture theatre, resource center, and private apartments.[3]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c "Aga Khan and Governor General of Canada Initiate the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat" (Press release). Aga Khan Development Network. 2006-06-06. http://www.akdn.org/news/2005June6b.html. Retrieved 2007-04-05.
- ^ a b "Maki and Associates: The Delegation of The Ismaili Imamat". http://www.maki-and-associates.co.jp/e/project/44.html. Retrieved 2007-04-06.
- ^ a b c "Moriyama & Teshima Current Projects: The Delegation of The Ismaili Imamat". http://www.mtarch.com/mtacurrent.html. Retrieved 2007-04-06.
- ^ "An essay in glass". http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/observer/story.html?id=62eba74e-c926-4291-9d69-a863f011e5ae. Retrieved September 14, 2009.
- ^ "Inauguration of the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat in Ottawa, Canada" (Press release). Aga Khan Development Network. 2008-12-06. http://www.akdn.org/press_release.asp?ID=700. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
- ^ "The Stately Launch of the Ismaili Delegation". http://www.embassymag.ca/page/view/chatterhouse-12-10-2008. Retrieved 2008-12-16.
- ^ "Aga Khan joins prime minister’s neighbourhood". http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=1043042. Retrieved 2008-12-16.
- ^ Alimohamed, Faranaaz (2008-07-21). "Landmark Delegation building takes shape in Ottawa". TheIsmaili. http://www.theismaili.org/cms/492/Landmark-Delegation-building-takes-shape-in-Ottawa. Retrieved 2008-07-24.
[edit] External links
- Video: Opening of the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat in Ottawa
- Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat Visitor Program
Coordinates: 45°26′06″N 75°41′52″W / 45.435067°N 75.697727°W
