Fantastic new construction pics by Meteor54 on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/15643394@N05/tags/agakhan/

One thing I really noticed in this set is the number of outdoor rooftop spaces there are on the Ismaili centre.

The Ismiali centre is looking very nice, and the completed angular skylight over the social hall space is providing a lot of visual interest and balance:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/15643394@N05/8025604219/

The trees coming in are complimenting the structure of the museum very nice. I suspect we won't see water till very close to the end of the project, which will add a different depth of interest:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/15643394@N05/8025601387/in/photostream/
 
Thank you aswalli. Here is a better pic of the completed angular skylight over the social hall space:
 
AlvinofDiaspar said:
Thanks for the link walli (and of course Meteor54 for taking those pics) - I find this pic to be particularly compelling:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/15643394@N05/8025604219/

There is something rather timeless about the forms - almost sci-fi like.

AoD
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That entire central roof-top area looks to be accessible. The project is complex enough that there will certainly be some (pleasant) surprises to discover once all is complete.
 
October 9, 2012

img1026gx.jpg
 
I agree with AoD. Additionally, I think the view from Jim's window misses a lot of the details in the cultural centre portion. The angle slippy has is potentially good, but the actual pictures cut off some of the interesting forms we see in this Meteor54 pic. Lastly, it is important to note that there is a lot more landscaping to go, including the varied reflective ponds.

This is one project where an actual visit and tour of discovery will be required for complete appreciation. There is an internal / integral quality there.
 
Latest is that Fumihiko Maki has been commissioned to design two of five buildings the Aga Khan is commissioning in central London, part of the much publicized King's Cross re-development. It is not clear who the other architects are, but most certainly highly recognizable international calibre architects. These will be the first Maki buildings in Europe. Noting that the Aga Khan's DII in Ottawa was the first Maki building in Canada (he has many in the USA incl. one of the WTC buildings, the UN expansion, etc.), and that this project includes the first Charles Correa and Vladimir Djurovic projects in Canada, it reinforces the importance of people like the Aga Khan in context of architecture, and dialogue via architecture.

Clearly tangential, but here is an article about the development in London UK:
http://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/aga-khan-has-designs-on-kings-cross-8208812.html

Not too many people get to participate in a 1/2 million square foot out of the box development in central London!
 
The boxy buildings with massive glass domes on a sprawling site remind me of shopping malls, though the institution will surely be very cultured and refined.
 
junctionist said:
The boxy buildings with massive glass domes on a sprawling site remind me of shopping malls, though the institution will surely be very cultured and refined.
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Personally I think they've done well to present a counterpoint to western architectural norms.

[EDIT]

To Frank's comment below, I can see where you're coming from. The fact that a massive amount of parking was moved underground to make room for vast public space is certainly a huge marker that it is not a mall, as is the quality of design (including details) and materials generally speaking. Having seen some of the interior pictures shared here, I can say with certainty that the glass dome is nothing like any mall glass dome. That would be like making a mole hill from a mountain!
 
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walli said:
Personally I think they've done well to present a counterpoint to western architectural norms.
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If you are only driving northward on the DVP the project does project a " shopping mall " affect at first. With the site landscaping complete, I trust the impression will be modified for the better. Thanks Walli for keeping this thread alive.
 
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