The theme of the Cycle, which culminates today is: “Architecture in Dialogue.” This theme, which emerged out of the deliberations of the Steering Committee and Master Jury, sees architecture as a robust interchange, one that can embrace a variety of diverse and even divergent perspectives.

A true dialogue requires not only that we articulate one perspective, but also that we listen — attentively — to other perspectives. More than that, it asks us not only to listen to one another, but also to learn from one another. There are several ways in which architecture can blend different perspectives. Let me briefly describe just four of them….

A second dialogue that advances the best in human architecture is an open dialogue between the past and the future. This means more than simply copying the past — or merely tacking some ancient arch or minaret or calligraphy onto a new building. On the other hand, it also means more than a heedless modernistic approach that ignores our rich heritage. Our realisation, more than 40 years ago, that architectural practice in Muslim societies had recently been forgetting its own history, helped us to shape the nature of this Award.

The dialogue we seek is one that will blend the inspiration of the past with the demands of the future. The demands are many: environmental, social, technological, and economic, not to mention the challenges of political polarisation. In all of these respects, looking back can help us look ahead — and vice versa.