The Ismaili Centre, Toronto — currently under development — will be the sixth such centre in the world. Situated in a park that it shares with the Aga Khan Museum (also under development) adjacent to the Don Valley Parkway in Toronto, the Centre will represent the permanent presence of the Ismaili Muslim community in Toronto and Canada. The building’s foundation ceremony was performed by the Prime Minister of Canada and His Highness the Aga Khan on May 28, 2010.
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The Ismaili Centre, Toronto will be situated along Wynford Drive in Toronto’s Don Mills neighbourhood.[1] It will be visible from the adjacent Don Valley Parkway,[2] and will share its 6.8 hectare site with the Aga Khan Museum.[1] Both buildings will be surrounded by a landscaped park.[2]
Formally announced in 2002,[3] the Ismaili Centre had its foundation ceremony on May 28, 2010. The ceremony was performed by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and His Highness the Aga Khan, together with the foundation of the Aga Khan Museum and their shared park.[4] Construction of the $300 million development is expected to finish in 2013, is expected to represent a significant addition and shift in the landscape of Toronto’s cultural institutions.[4]
The Ismaili Centre, Toronto was designed by Indian architectural firm Charles Correa Associates in collaboration with Toronto-based Moriyama & Teshima Architects.[5] Correa sought to create a building that responds to the traditions of Islamic architecture in a contemporary way using modern materials.
A distinguishing feature of the building will be the glass roof of the prayer hall, which recalls the corbelling in many of the traditional domes in the Muslim world.[5] The glass dome, which represented a difficult technical challenge, will be made of two layers of high-performance glass, and fritted to deflect the heat of the sun.[6] A clear sliver of glass facing east toward Mecca will run down the translucent roof, indicating the direction of prayer.[6]
The Ismaili Centre is set in a landscaped park, composed of both formal and informal gardens. Designed by Lebanese landscape-architect Vladimir Djurovic, the park connects the Centre with the adjacent Aga Khan Museum.[5] Djurovic described his vision for the park as one that “captures the essence of the Islamic garden and translates it into an expression that reflects its context and contemporary age.”[5]
The park incorporates a char bagh formal garden that will feature mirror-like reflecting pools.[5] Designed to suit the climate of Toronto, the gardens will capture the beauty of the four seasons.[1] The park also provides space for educational programming, outdoor gatherings as well as offering areas for tranquillity and relaxation.[5]