Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2025 Highlights 19 Projects, and Three from Indonesia

The Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2025, an international architecture award, is back. This year, 19 projects from 15 countries have been officially selected from a total of 369 nominated works. The Aga Khan Award for Architecture, which has been held since 1977, focuses on how architecture can bring about real change in people's lives. Each work submitted for nomination is not only judged on its aesthetic appeal, but also on its ability to address social needs, strengthen cultural identity, and provide ecological solutions relevant to the local context.

As in previous years, Indonesia will participate in this prestigious award in 2025. This achievement is evidenced by three Indonesian architectural works that have been selected for the Aga Khan Award for Architecture.

The Arc at Green School, Bali, designed by IBUKU, is one of the selected architectural works featuring a fitness center. The building was constructed with a bamboo structure characterized by curved elements. The Arc at Green School represents Balinese local wisdom, combining traditional materials with a design approach to create a spacious, environmentally friendly space that symbolizes harmony between tradition and sustainability.

The Nurul Yaqin Mosque Islamic Center in Palu, designed by Dave Orlando and Fandy Gunawan, was built in response to the 2018 tsunami that destroyed many places of worship in the area. The mosque was designed with a simple approach but with an emphasis on spatial flexibility so that it can accommodate various activities of its users. In addition to the worship space, the mosque is equipped with a reflecting pool around it to provide a calm and peaceful atmosphere for worshippers.

Microlibraries, created by SHAU, are a network of small libraries scattered throughout various urban public spaces and residential areas. Each microlibrary is designed with a simple spatial layout but still strives to provide more equitable access to literacy for the community, especially children. These buildings not only function as places to read, but also as meeting spaces that can be used by the public.

All projects selected for the 2025 Aga Khan Award for Architecture are currently undergoing a review process to ensure the quality, impact, and sustainability of their designs. The winning projects are scheduled to be announced in the second half of 2025.