Revitalisation of Historic Esna, Egypt. Image Courtesy of Takween ICD
Among the seven winners of this year’s 16th Aga Khan Award for Architecture was the Revitalisation of Historic Esna in southern Egypt. Led by the Cairo-based firm Takween, the project was far more than a simple restoration. It was a comprehensive renewal effort that combined deep community engagement with the preservation of both tangible and intangible heritage. By creating thousands of jobs and restoring the historic center, the initiative offered a powerful alternative to demolition. The Aga Khan Trust lauded it as a ‘replicable model for sustainable development’.