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.

Fall 2020 Virtual Lectures

Monday, September 21, 6 PM (EST)
Tangier at the Crossroads: 
Memories of Cosmopolitanism and Dreams of Technological Modernity
Michael A Toler
Archnet Content Manager
Aga Khan Documentation Center (AKDC@MIT)
MIT Libraries
Bio & Abstract
VIDEO RECORDING

Thursday, November 12, 6 PM (EST)
Elusive Things: Materialities and Spatialities in the Vicinity of Nigér
Ikem Stanley Okoye 
Associate Professor
Art History Department - Africana Department,
University of Delaware
This lecture is presented in conjuction with the MIT Department of Architecture Lecture series.
Bio & Abstract
This lecture wcan be see here.

Monday, November 16, 6 PM (EST)
Negotiating Uncertainty in an Accra Zongo
Emily Anne Williamson
PhD Candidate
Department of Anthropology
Boston University
Bio & Abstract 
VIDEO RECORDING

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.
May 20, 2020 ArchitectureTalk, Ep 71. Architecture in the Time of Coronavirus with Dr. Nasser Rabbat