The Aga Khan IV Dies at Aged 88

The Aga Khan Foundation and the Ismailiyah religious community announced on their website that His Highness Prince Karim al-Hussaini, Aga Khan IV and the 49th imam of Ismailiyah Shia Muslims, passed away on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, in Portugal, surrounded by his family. 

The Aga Khan was known as a spiritual leader of the Ismaili sect and a generous businessman who poured material resources into building houses, hospitals, and schools in developing countries. The Aga Khan Foundation, a global development organization that works to address the root causes of poverty, is one of the organizations initiated by the Aga Khan. 

In the scope of architecture and design, a prestigious award, the Aga Khan Award for Architecture (AKAA), is one that is familiar. AKAA was established in 1977 by Aga Khan IV with the aim of identifying and awarding architectural concepts that meet the aspirations of the Muslim community in the scope of design, community development, social housing, restoration, reuse, and conservation areas, as well as landscape design and improvement of the environment. Under the Aga Khan Development Network, a development organization that works to improve the welfare and prospects of people in developing countries, especially in Asia and Africa. 

Awarded on a three-year cycle with a total prize pool of US$1 million divided among the winning projects, the AKAA awards successfully reward architects and designers for their work.