Canada

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The Aga Khan Award for Architecture was established by His Highness the Aga Khan in 1977 and is one of the most prestigious architectural prizes in the world. Since its launch 45 years ago, 121 projects have received the award and nearly 10,000 building projects have been documented. The Award not only rewards architects, but also identifies municipalities, builders, clients, master artisans and engineers who have played important roles in the project.

Using Toronto as a laboratory, the study and exhibition Housing Multitudes: Reimagining the Landscapes of Suburbia unlocks the DNA of the suburb to create a composite “big picture” of how the urbanism that characterizes many North American cities can be transformed for the greater benefit of all.

The work of Dhaka-based Marina Tabassum Architects (MTA) often addresses the needs of marginalized communities, whose well-being has been especially threatened during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020 and 2021, the firm undertook various projects that dealt with displacement, vulnerable populations and humanitarian challenges. During this lecture and presentation, MTA founder Marina Tabassum — the Daniels Faculty’s 2022-2023 Frank Gehry International Visiting Chair in Architectural Design — will be speaking about those projects, about her experience as an architect in South Asia and elsewhere, and about the changing role of architects as agents of change.