Welcome to AKPIA@MIT

The Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (AKPIA@MIT) is an academic program part of the MIT Department of Architecture.  The program offers degree courses and sponsors public lectures and conferences at MIT. In addition the program offers travel grants for MIT students, as well as postdoctoral fellowships with residence at MIT.

SPRING 2021 VIRTUAL LECTURES

Thursday, March 4, 6:00 PM (EST)
Surveying Modern Architecture: The Case of Cairo
Mohamed Elshahed
Independent Curator and author of Cairo Since 1900: An Architectural Guide
This presentation also is part of the Department of  Architecture’s lecture series.
Lecture link here.
Bio/Abstract

Monday, April 12, 6:00 PM (EST)
Lived Heritage and the Sacred Topography of Harar Jugol, Ethiopia
Michelle Moore Apotsos
Department of Art
Williams College
Register in advance here. 
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with the lecture link.
Bio/Abstract

Monday, May 10, 6:00 PM (EST)
The Place of Africa, in Theory
Shaden M. Tageldin
Cultural Studies & Comparative Literature
University of Minnesota
Register in advance here.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with the lecture link.
Bio/Abstract
Look though our lecture history and recordings

Pictures of the AKPIA Virtual Reunions
This year’s theme for World Habitat Day, Housing for All: A better Urban Future, is an opportunity to reflect on the state of housing in our towns, cities, and communities, exploring how we can build stronger, more resilient settlements. The COVID-19 pandemic highlights how fundamental our homes and neighbourhoods are to our quality of life – are our homes safe and comfortable, do they have running water and electricity; are there green spaces nearby for our children to play, or hospitals, schools and other social infrastructure? The Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) works to ensure that people live in safe, sustainable, and resilient physical settings, providing them opportunities to thrive. AKAH’s Habitat Planning framework is a process that spans community-centred participatory design, government engagement, socio-economic and land-use Geographic Information System (GIS) data analysis, planning, design, and construction, to help communities plan for opportunity. Video here
Introducing the Aga Khan Trust for Culture Media Catalogue. The new catalogue contains links to AKTC resources, which are available to download or consult online. These resources include, films, images, educational lectures and presentations, journals, brochures, and publications, for the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, Aga Khan Music Programme, Aga Khan Historic Cities Programme, Education Programme, Aga Khan Programme for Islamic Architecture and Aga Khan Museum.