The Aga Khan Museum. Toronto

Nearly twenty acres in suburban Toronto are beingtransformed to create a showplace for Islamic art and culturethat will be unlike anything in the Western Hemisphere. Thisvolume includes the plans for and explores the concept behindthis important project. It explains why the Aga Khan choseToronto as the location to exhibit his family’s substantialcollection of Islamic art and features interviews with architectsFumihiko Maki and Vladimir Djurivic. Drawings of the centerand its exquisitely landscaped grounds reveal a stunningcontemporary design featuring white stone and an elaborateglass dome, with plenty of outdoor space for walking andcontemplation. The multi-purpose facility, which, in addition toThe museum, includes a theatre, classrooms, and a full-service restaurant and private club serving Islamic cuisine, promises to be a singular jewel in the crown of Toronto’s architectural offerings, as well as a valuable contribution to the preservationand presentation of Islam’s rich artistic heritage.