ACTIVITIES AT THE ISMAILI CENTRE DUBAI

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kmaherali
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Humility in built form: An interview with Ismaili Centre Dubai architects

As part of the 10th anniversary celebrations of the Ismaili Centre, Dubai, architects Rami El Dahan and Soheir Farid visited the Centre earlier this year and looked back on the successes and challenges in designing a welcoming building of timeless elegance.

During their visit, the Egyptian duo spoke passionately about their initial challenge of creating a building to suit the configuration of the land, and design a centre that was welcoming for both visitors and community members. This led to the creation of grand domes, large corridors, and calming geometric designs and fountains. They chose to place the largest dome, octagonal in shape, supported on meticulously engineered heavy corbels, in the centrepiece of the building: the Jamatkhana prayer hall, to draw one’s senses inwards and upwards.

“The love, passion, and humility that exuded from the architects themselves, gave us a renewed understanding of the statement ‘to build something that reflected Islamic architecture and yet showed humility in a built form,’ said Nilufer Verjee, the tour ambassadors’ team lead. “We were moved by their presence. It appears apparent to us all now, that the Centre also reflects their love, attitude, and ethics in a built form, so dear to Mawlana Hazar Imam."

Leaders of the Jamat and tour ambassadors had the fortunate opportunity to participate in a rare tour of the building, guided by the architects themselves, and posed them a series of questions about the design features, the function, and vision of the building:

The Ismaili Centre Dubai is known as an oasis of refreshing calm and refined distinction. How did you ensure a sense of order and harmony in its design, in a region where steel and glass structures have often set the trend?

That’s a difficult one, because it was the only choice we had. This was the vision of His Highness. He wanted this, and we are glad to have been able to read between the lines of what he wanted and manage to actually build it. Our success in this project as well as the Azhar park, was the result of us really being able to feel what was wanted in the brief that was given to us. His Highness wanted a high profile Jamatkhana and a high profile Ismaili Centre. The building was not to be just a functional place, but had to serve a different purpose at the same time for both the community and its guests. But this would not be possible if we had been requested to make something that fitted the surrounding trends.

A similar project was the Hilltop Restaurant and Terrace located within the 30-hectare Azhar Park in Cairo. Given the importance of the location, where we have the most important mosques in the world such as the Mohamed Ali Mosque, the restaurant needed to be unique. some people would go there to have lunch, but it meant to serve an additional purpose as well. We were able to feel and sense that purpose of the Azhar Park, and we think that is why he commissioned us.

What feature of the Ismaili Centre makes you most proud and how did it come about?

The whole harmony and simplicity of the building, and yet with a very intricate design. This kind of simplicity as we say in Arabic, sahel almomtanee looks very easy and obvious to create, but it is not. The amount of work behind this design, not only by us, but also Nizar Shariff and Sadrudin Inayatali, took many hours of meetings to form.

There are many features in the building, but the most successful one is the way you reach the Jamatkhana as you go through the building. The quality of each space that you walk through from the entrance hall to the passage, to the seven-sided dome, the opening where you leave your shoes, and finally enter the Jamatkhana is an urban design — it is like a city design. It is not just about designing of the individual spaces, but the design of one’s journey from the door to the main function of the building. I think this is the real success. It makes you forget all the streets outside. It’s like an oasis: once you enter, you forget the city; and this is a success.

From the sunken water channels and carved hardwood floors, to the striking prayer-hall dome; the skilled craftwork and artistry is clearly evident. What do these touches add to the function of the space?

There are very different answers to all of these questions. If and when we design our house, we make a courtyard because we believe a courtyard should be an integral part of any building. In all cultures and countries, it brings a part of the sky into the building. This is one element that was not written in the brief, yet we have seven courtyards in this building. This is a principle of architecture we believe in. Whenever we can we put in a courtyard, it’s a must, even in a small villa, as it allows the lighting in the building to be different.

We believe that beauty resides in nature, more than in manmade things. So when we use materials like wood, marble, and stone, and respect those materials — not just for cladding but in the way they are meant to be used, the result will be inevitably good. Adding features such as domes, walls, stones, and introducing water elements in fountains, requires skill. Like Hassan Fathy, you need to use detailing and ideas in proper balance. To find the right balance, an architect has to refrain from incorporating every thought and remain focused on the end result.

You have designed various types of buildings in many different parts of the world. Is there a particular period of history, or school of thought, which influences the style of your designs?

No, I am not partial to any particular one. I observe continuously when I travel and absorb the various forms and styles of architecture, from Japan, to the history of Egypt, to monuments of Europe and France. When you have all this in you, it’s your responsibility to produce something to match that level.

What advice would you share with young people who aspire to become more involved in creative and artistic fields?

I would encourage them to learn about the work of Hassan Fathy, and the concept of vernacular architecture. I would recommend that they create a vernacular attitude within themselves and always keep the motive in mind. You cannot create something that is internationally viable and good until it is rooted. There is a sequence in creating, even if it is a modern building.

Photos at:

https://the.ismaili/uae/humility-built- ... -173435533
kmaherali
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Hackathon Dubai empowers youth to address today’s technological challenges

The Ismaili Centre, Dubai held its first two-day Hackathon recently, which introduced 35 young individuals to real-world technological problems and challenged them to identify sustainable global solutions.

The participants, aged 13-18, first heard from a panel of speakers including representatives from Apple, Microsoft, Airbnb, Visa, and Facebook. The panellists focused on the technological solutions responding to challenges faced by their respective organisations, and discussed how these innovations benefitted local communities and society at large, across sectors and borders. These discussions centred around a variety of breakthrough technologies including genomics, cryptocurrency, nanotechnology, and virtual and augmented reality.

Then came the real challenge: Participants were tasked with building prototypes of solutions to problems related to artificial intelligence, robotics, data sciences, and 3-D printing.

All teams presented innovative technological solutions that would improve the lives of people working in fields such as healthcare, non-governmental organisations, education, sustainable cities, and agriculture, in less than 24 hours.

Two of the solutions presented have received interest from external individuals or organisations. The first solution was the use of artificial intelligence for garbage disposal on streets. Participants Rohaan Gulamani, Amaan Vasani, Kawar Niat Khan, and Armaan Lalani created a prototype for the AI garbage disposal using 3-D printing, and are currently working on upgrading the design for a motorized prototype.

The second solution was the establishment of a platform for non-governmental organisations to come under one banner in order to simplify the process of funding requests. Group members Sara Firdos, Zahid Surani, Zenah Merchant, and Mehak Jindani created the website — which compiles all potential NGOs for donors to browse through rather than visiting each entity’s website individually — and are currently looking into ensuring that the website satisfies local laws and regulations.

“Hackathon is about inspiring inquiring minds with knowledge and know-how to find real world solutions to real world challenges for the betterment of the world. I could not be happier with the potential I saw during this event,” said Saira Gulamani, co-educator of Hackathon.

https://the.ismaili/uae/hackathon-dubai ... challenges
kmaherali
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Opening of the Ismaili Centre Dubai - A Reflection

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https://the.ismaili/uae/opening-the-ism ... reflection
kmaherali
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Experiencing Ikebana at the Ismaili Centre, Dubai

The Japanese consulate and the Ismaili Centre, Dubai, recently partnered to feature the art of ‘Ikebana,’ which took participants on a journey of culture, art, time, and nature, reminding us to look within to find calm and peace.

A central purpose of the Ismaili Centres around the world is to encourage mutual exchanges and understanding between diverse peoples, communities and faiths. In this spirit of friendship and dialogue, the Ismaili Council for the UAE invited Ma Harue Oki to the Ismaili Centre Dubai to share the ancient Japanese art of Ikebana.

Ms Harue Oki, an art enthusiast and instructor, provided the audience an insight into the art of Ikebana. This seventh-century art of flower arranging was first introduced to Japan from China and Korea, as offerings in Buddhist temples, subsequently evolving into a formalised practice during the Muromachi period, around the 15th to 16th century.

Ikebana is meant to be practiced while in a meditative state, so as to observe and focus on the beauty of nature and gain inner peace. It is based on seven basic principles, namely; minimalism, shape, line, form, humanity, aesthetics, and balance – some of which are also reflected and manifested in the architecture of the Ismaili Centre.

Ms Oki then invited eight volunteers from the audience to create their own arrangements using this unique technique. She noted that eight different versions of the arrangements were created, despite having received the same set of instructions and materials by all the participants. She noted that it represented a very practical lesson in the multiplicity of human perception and diversity of expression.

“And this, our life, exempt from public haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything.”
William Shakespeare

Nature has a way of inspiring each one of us in unique ways. A child’s first drawing usually reflects something from nature, while artists recreate fields using colours from their pallets. We are constantly stimulated by natures’ activities, be it its beauty, or cold chilled winds, while some are mesmerised by the sunset as they hear the evening Adhan (call to prayer).

Springtime is an especially symbolic period of the year where the brilliance of nature unfolds in a multitude of ways. As we celebrate Navroz and the blooming of spring this month, we celebrate the generous offering of nature to humanity.

Photos at:

https://the.ismaili/global/news/communi ... -173435533
kmaherali
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TEDx talk at Ismaili Centre shines light on tuberculosis, an infectious threat to learn from

In his address at TEDxOudMetha, held at the Ismaili Centre Dubai weeks before widespread social distancing was implemented, Dr Salmaan Keshavjee, Professor of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard University and Director of the Harvard Medical School’s Centre for Global Health Delivery, discussed how many other diseases, beyond Covid-19, continue to affect peoples’ quality of life and cause untimely death, including diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and even curable infectious diseases such as tuberculosis (TB).

However, TB still claims approximately 4,000 lives each day, despite humans having a cure since 1948. As an airborne disease, TB can be passed along very easily from one person to another. This is what gave rise to the TB pandemic of the last two centuries which, by some estimates, is said to have killed one billion people between the years 1800 and 2000.

It was in the 1950s that the “search-treat-prevent” approach was developed to stop TB. Mass community-based testing was initiated, often using mobile x-ray vans. Affected individuals were isolated and treated, and preventative measures were applied within the community to limit further spreading — much like the isolation and social distancing we practice today. This approach was used in developed countries where TB infections have now dropped markedly.
“Covid-19 has demonstrated that our health systems face an important gap in their ability to test and treat people for disease in the communities where they live and work. In many parts of the world this is exacerbated by poverty,” said Dr Keshavjee.

One hope lies in the success of alliances such as the Zero TB Initiative, said Keshavjee. The initiative is run in part by the department of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard University and was formed to assist cities, districts, and countries to adopt the search-treat-prevent approach to epidemic control using community-based healthcare delivery platforms.

“The platform needed for TB will not only help us deal better with outbreaks like coronavirus, but it will also help us fill the health delivery gap for so many other diseases,” Keshavjee said. “That’s the strategy that I think can have an exponential impact in our lives and the lives of so many people, if we do it right and if we do it soon.”

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kmaherali
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The Ismaili Centre Dubai offers condolences on the passing of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum

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Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance passed away today, on 24 March 2021. The Ismaili Centre Dubai offers condolences to the royal family and will keep Sheikh Hamdan in our thoughts and prayers. May Allah the Almighty rest his soul in peace.
kmaherali
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Dubai’s Ismaili Centre hosts second annual Aga Khan Development Network meet

Event brought together representatives of various diplomatic missions in the UAE


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Guests being welcomed by Akbar Verjee, Diplomatic Relations for Ismaili Centre, while Tareq al Gurg, CEO Dubai Cares speaks with Nicola Lener, Italian Ambassador to the UAE

Dubai: Ismaili Centre Dubai hosted the second Annual Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) Diplomatic Luncheon.

The event brought together representatives of various diplomatic missions in the UAE from more than 32 countries, along with representatives from numerous international agencies such as Unicef, Fatima Bint Mohamed Bin Zayed Initiative, Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government, Dubai Cares amongst others.

The Ismaili Centre Dubai provided the backdrop to the annual event designed as an expression of appreciation for the support and collaboration of the many governments and agencies in attendance. It also highlighted the work of Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), an agency of the AKDN.

Restoration and rehabilitation

In a keynote speech delivered by Dr Ali Esmaiel, CEO of Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) Syria, the audience was informed about the work of AKTC in relation to the preservation of the old city of Damascus, the rehabilitation of Souk al-Saqatiya in Aleppo (designated by Unesco as a World Heritage Site), a project funded and implemented by AKDN and winner of the Grand Award from the International Centre for the study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property — Sharjah Chapter for Good Practices in Cultural Heritage Conservation and Management in the Arab Region (2019-2020), and the Arab Cultural Heritage Award for the Young.

The opening address delivered by Khalil Muhammad, vice-president of the Ismaili Community in the UAE, highlighted that AKTC will present the theme ‘Culture as a Catalyst for Social Development at the Expo 2020’. It is expected that a formal announcement on the collaboration between AKDN and Expo 2020 Dubai will be made in the near future.

Historic Cities programme

AKTC’s Historic Cities programme covered Cairo and Kabul and restored a Mughal emperor’s tomb in Delhi. This social emphasis is characteristic of the urban regeneration projects that AKTC has undertaken across the Islamic world as apart of the Historic Cities programme. Well known examples of such projects include the Al Azhar Park in Cairo, Baltit Fort in Hunza and the restoration of Mughal Emperor Humayun's tomb in Delhi,” Muhammad said.

Aziz Merchant, president of the Ismaili Community in the UAE said: “The Ismaili Centre Dubai intends to continue to host the Annual AKDN Diplomatic Luncheon with the objectives of stimulating the intellect, encouraging dialogue and supporting tolerance and international cooperation.”

‘Non-discriminatory contributions’

Richard Stockdale, managing director and CEO of Sustainable Energies Scotland Limited and a guest at the event, said: “For many years, I have followed and admired the ethos, ethics and the positive, non-discriminatory contributions to needy societies, made by the worldwide Ismaili Community, led by Aga Khan and executed by the Aga Khan Development Network. The Annual AKDN lunch brought together a senior international audience whom I know from conversations and who have shared the same positive views as I hold.”

https://gulfnews.com/uae/dubais-ismaili ... 1.82633577
kmaherali
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Re: ACTIVITIES AT THE ISMAILI CENTRE DUBAI

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The Evolution of the Arabic Word: From Rock Inscriptions to the Digital Age

In Celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the United Arab Emirates and World Arabic Language Day, the Ismaili Centre Dubai organised and hosted a Symposium on ‘The Evolution of the Arabic Word: From Rock Inscriptions to the Digital Age’ on 11 December 2021.

Inspired by, and in collaboration with, Sheikha Alyazia Bint Nahyan Al Nahyan, Extraordinary Ambassador for Culture, ALECSO (Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organisation), the symposium focused on raising awareness of the evolution of the Arabic script and language.

In her introductory keynote, Sheikha Alyazia Bint Nahyan stated: “Some may say that this topic of inscriptions is a part of culture or history, but the more we examine the world of inscriptions we can actually see that it is the other way around and that culture and history are part of the world of inscriptions, because language comes first and everything else follows.

In 2020 when we all went virtual, taking lead from our government, which encourages us to believe that challenges can be turned into opportunities, we at Anasy Media humbly set out to work with 14 professors and experts, Dr. Eisa being one of the main participants, on the Arabic Inscriptions Portal website (www.aip.ae), also with our partners ALECSO, the UAE Ministry of Culture & Youth, Sharjah Archaeology Authority and others, over 100 inscriptions from 7 countries were gathered to serve as a comparative digital resource.

We are grateful to the Ismaili Centre for organising, partnering and hosting this impressive symposium. It is the perfect place for the exchange of ideas and a meaningful way to celebrate the Arabic language day & the UAE’s Golden Jubilee.”

Historical inscriptions of the Arabic script on rocks and other media, also known as Arabic epigraphy, tell a rich story of the Muslim world, featuring diversity, culture, peace, war, travel and trading, which can be seen on the Arabic Inscription Portal www.aip.ae founded by Sheikh Alyazia. The Arabic Inscription Portal is a valuable tool for specialists, researchers and those interested in the history of the Middle East to have access to scattered inscriptions throughout the region, regardless of their dialects, writings, and diversity.

The symposium commenced with architectural tours of the Ismaili Centre Dubai, which is inspired by the Fatimid tradition, and built to be a place of peace and tranquility with modern functionality. The Ismaili Community, with guidance and leadership from His Highness the Aga Khan, places a tremendous importance on intellectual curiosity and discovery, dialogue and collaboration and the critical role of art and culture within Islam.

The event continued with two panel discussions with experts, Mr Eisa Yousif, Director of Archaeology and Heritage at Sharjah Archaeology Authority; Professor Alex Bellem, Arabist and Linguist with the Aga Khan University institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations (AKU-ISMC); Dr Sarah Bowen Savant, Professor of History with Aga Khan University Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations; Dr Sulaiman Al – Thiaeb, Professor of Ancient Arabic Writings and Archeology at the King Saud University; Dr Adriaan De Man, Associate Professor and Chair with the Department of Tourism and Heritage of UAE University and Dr Zaki Aslan, Director of ICCROM-Sharjah, an international body that works to conserve cultural heritage in the Middle East.

The morning panel tackled the topic: 'Complexity and Diversity in a Cultural-Rich Heritage: How is the deciphering of 'desert graffiti' changing what we know about the history of the development of Arabic?'

The afternoon panel discussion explored the topic: 'Making the Past Accessible in the Digital Age.' Panelists explored the fast-evolving role that technology is playing in making cultural heritage accessible to wide audiences. They explored the ways in which inscriptions, manuscripts and printed books are now prepared for interpretation and the role that computer science is playing in the creation of new tools and methods for research and teaching cultural heritage. One such example introduced was the KITAB project, which has built a two-billion-word collection of historical Arabic texts, developed by Dr. Sarah Bowen Savant and her team at the AKU-ISMC.

The closing session of the symposium, titled "Lessons Learned and Practical Actions – Identity, Roots and Appreciation of the Arabic Word" helped to synthesise learnings and inform key actions that can be taken to protect and continue to enhance a greater appreciation and value for its place in history and in contemporary settings.

Dr. Zaki Aslan synthesised much of the previous discussions from the panels. He focused on the "why" of Arabic, the significance of spoken and written word, the valuation of culture and heritage, the dangers and challenges being faced and finding a way to make the language fun, appreciated and relevant in today’s context.

The symposium then officially ended with lunch and additional architectural tours of the Ismaili Centre, Dubai.


Sheikha Alyazia, Founder of the Arabic Inscription Portal (www.aip.ae), is also a renowned artist, filmmaker, storyteller and co-founder of Anasy Media, a film production company which has produced award-winning documentaries ranging from history to culture and present-day issues. Her talent and passion for arts and culture, her leadership role with ALECSO and her work with the Arabic Inscription Portal, brought significance and gravity to the symposium.

UNESCO’s World Arabic Language Day for 2021, featured that the Arabic language is seen as a bridge between civilisations, and an important means to connecting people through culture, science, literature, and other domains. It was therefore fitting that the symposium objectives were strongly aligned with UNESCO

Photos at:

https://the.ismaili/uae/the-evolution-t ... igital-age
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