Toronto Aga Khan Museum + Ismaili Centre | ?m | ?s | Aga Khan Dev. | Maki and Associates

[spaced]

From Sept 19th/2014:
Overall, very impressed. I'm not Muslim or Islamic, just a fan of art, civilization and architecture. I am a bit disappointed in Toronto overall for not embracing this development more. The press has only seemed lukewarm and, although I don't like busy museums, I was expecting more of a turn out for the first weekend. Seriously, this museum was chosen to be put here over London. London, frigging England!!!1! What else in this city can you say that about?

I suppose my other gripe was getting there. Hopefully when the construction is done (on Eg) and the lrt is done, this will be eliminated or at least greatly reduced.

 

[Watts]

Imagine how much more architecturally interesting this area would have been had the Bata Building been preserved. Such a waste. There's no reason this project couldn't have been built around it.

 

[barit]

Imagine how much more architecturally interesting this area would have been had the Bata Building been preserved. Such a waste. There's no reason this project couldn't have been built around it.

Agreed! One of the conditions the city imposed in allowing the Bata building's demotion is that they were to commemorate it. Question - did they fulfill this obligation, and if so where is it?

 

[barit]

From Sept 19th/2014:
Overall, very impressed. I'm not Muslim or Islamic, just a fan of art, civilization and architecture. I am a bit disappointed in Toronto overall for not embracing this development more. The press has only seemed lukewarm and, although I don't like busy museums, I was expecting more of a turn out for the first weekend. Seriously, this museum was chosen to be put here over London. London, frigging England!!!1! What else in this city can you say that about?
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The only reason it wasn't built in London is because they couldn't get permission. Then they decided on Toronto.

 

[interchange42]

Uh, that's not 'the only' reason we got it, as if London and Toronto are the only two possibilities in the world. More Toronto defeatism?

42

 

[walli]

Uh, that's not 'the only' reason we got it, as if London and Toronto are the only two possibilities in the world. More Toronto defeatism?

42

Fully agree with interchange42 - and I'm a little bit disappointed with some of the trolling here.

London is still getting a new Aga Khan complex. In fact, the Aga Khan has a five building complex that is to be built in the King's Cross re-development, including a premier centre to be designed by ... Fumihiko Maki:
http://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/aga-khan-has-designs-on-kings-cross-8208812.html

So Toronto is most definitely an important centre, and was selected for all the right reasons.

For the culture and architecture divas out, I once again highlight:

http://archrecord.construction.com/news/2014/09/140919-Makis-Aga-Khan-Museum-Makes-Its-Debut.asp
"Toronto’s cultural brand has moved into a new galaxy."

http://urbantoronto.ca/news/2014/09/aga-khan-museum-opens-public-don-mills
"An oasis of calm and contemplative design, both in the serene yet bold and hard-edged geometry of the buildings, and in the softness of the surrounding landscape, the Aga Khan Museum and the adjoining Ismaili Centre make a momentous addition to Toronto's cultural mosaic, unmatched in many years."

 

[Ayan]

The only reason it wasn't built in London is because they couldn't get permission. Then they decided on Toronto.

Well when the plan to build this complex in London fell apart, there was speculation that it would be built somewhere else in Europe so Toronto was chosen over other potential cities. I would argue that Toronto (Canada in general) has been considerably more successful in embracing multiculturalism than European countries. Things are not perfect here but so far we have been able to avoid the ethnocentric and anti-immigrant attitudes prevalent in Europe.

 

[condovo]

The only reason it wasn't built in London is because they couldn't get permission. Then they decided on Toronto.

Toronto is North America’s fourth-largest city, widely recognized as a place that sits comfortably with cultural diversity. The majority of its population was born outside of Canada, and some 150 languages are spoken within the metropolis. With that in mind, and reportedly as a thank you to Canada for welcoming Ismailis when they faced persecution in Uganda during the 1970s, the wealthy Aga Khan—renowned for founding universities and hospitals in the Muslim world as well as for his patronage of Islamic studies at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology—gave the $300-million museum and civic complex to Toronto. It is the first art museum that the Aga Khan Trust for Culture has built to date.

Source: http://archrecord.construction.com/news/2014/09/140919-Makis-Aga-Khan-Museum-Makes-Its-Debut.asp

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

Let's not forget that the second Ismaili Centre was built in Burnaby, BC; that Maki is the architect for the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat in Ottawa commissioned by HH Aga Khan, and that he is one of 6 honorary Canadians. He has a long history of building and creating institutions in Canada.

AoD

 

[walli]

The museum keeps making waves internationally:

http://www.newsweek.com/2014/10/03/...s-back-against-jihadist-brutality-272650.html

 

[interchange42]

Some sunset shots from earlier today:

The Aga Khan Museum:

The Ismaili Centre:

42

 

[DtTO]

The Ismaili Centre crystal looked magnificent on the drive up the DVP. I can't wait to visit this place in a few weeks.

 

[walli]

Shanghai Daily:
"Toronto's Aga Khan Museum reveals marvel of China's impact on Islamic art"
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/article_xinhua.aspx?id=246929

 

[Tewder]

Overall, very impressed. I'm not Muslim or Islamic, just a fan of art, civilization and architecture. I am a bit disappointed in Toronto overall for not embracing this development more. The press has only seemed lukewarm and, although I don't like busy museums, I was expecting more of a turn out for the first weekend.

In one sense I'm glad there's little interest. Despite the pretty buildings and pseudo-intellectual trappings this is just another religious shrine in a world that can do without them, quite frankly. If this were a temple to humanism I'd be far more excited for what this would say about Toronto.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

In one sense I'm glad there's little interest. Despite the pretty buildings and pseudo-intellectual trappings this is just another religious shrine in a world that can do without them, quite frankly. If this were a temple to humanism I'd be far more excited for what this would say about Toronto.

I will bite - pseudo-intellectual in what way? Complaining about this project along such lines is like complaining about having a church built next door. Would one be having comments as such regarding say, the artistic and cultural worth of say our Judeo-Christian heritage?

We don't need a temple to Humanism - the state is secular, and there are sufficient cultural apparatus operating along such lines. There is truly no need to reinterpret the concept as a matter of faith - in fact, it's a bit obscene to reinterpret it in such a quasi-religious manner.

AoD