EXHIBITION DESIGN | 2024
Project Introduction
This project draws inspiration from architectural projects featured in the Aga Khan Award. It requires us to independently explore themes, select relevant cases, conduct in-depth analyses, and ultimately develop an exhibition design based on our research findings.
SITE
Aga Khan Museum
77 Wynford Dr, North York, ON M3C 1K3, Canada
“Weaving is not just a formal connection; it symbolizes the close
relationship between
individuals and the
collective.”
relationship between
individuals and the
collective.”
EXHIBITION CONCEPT
Through the exploration of six selected projects, we enter into a cross-temporal and cross-cultural dialogue, focusing on themes such as the progressive approach to community development, women’s communities, multicultural exchange, and preservation of traditional culture.
'Weaving Community' is the core concept of this exhibition. It serves as a deep metaphor to explore the complex relationships within community building, from the intertwining of culture and resources to the integration of human interactions. The art of weaving transcends traditional craft and technique, becoming a bridge that unites diverse experiences, gathers collective memory, and shapes a shared identity and future possibilities.
Weaving is not just a formal connection; it symbolizes the close relationship between individuals and the collective, between the past and the future within a community. Amid the tension between globalization and local culture, the concept of weaving communities offers a new framework for understanding resilience and cohesion.
Selected Projects
1. Khuda-ki-Basti Incremental Development Scheme
— Community in Development
Hyderabad, Pakistan
| 1993–1995 Cycle
Incremental housing model supporting low-income residents through self-built homes, shared infrastructure, and gradual upgrading.
2. Aït Iktel
— Well-Organized Community
Abadou, Morocc | 1999–2001 Cycle
Community-driven rural development project integrating housing, infrastructure, and collective facilities.
3. Rehabilitation of the Old City
— Preserving Community Traditions
Shibam, Yemen | 2005–2007 Cycle
Urban conservation project balancing heritage preservation with housing, infrastructure, and community life.
4. Yodakandiya Community Centre
— Community Center
Hambantota, Sri Lanka
| 2008–2010 Cycle
Post-tsunami community hub supporting social recovery, education, and local gathering.
| 2008–2010 Cycle
Post-tsunami community hub supporting social recovery, education, and local gathering.
5. Superkilen
— Diversity Community
Copenhagen, Denmark | 2014–2016 Cycle
Multicultural urban park using public objects, color, and spatial symbols to represent neighborhood diversity.
6. Community Spaces in Rohingya Refugee Response — Community for Women
Teknaf, Bangladesh| 2020–2022 Cycle
Bamboo-built community spaces offering safety, training, and social support for refugee women.
Floor plan
The floor plan retains the concept of weaving, using various stripe compositions to create distinct patterns that reflect the unique character of each community.
Ceiling
The ceiling features fabric materials, with a single color applied to the exhibition perimeter to maintain a unified spatial experience. At the center, overlapping layers of fabric in different colors interact with light and shadow, creating a vibrant and dynamic focal point.
Circulation
Plan Partition
Section
The perspective section conveys the sense of communities from around the world being intricately woven together, collectively contributing to a better and more interconnected world.
Parallel
As individual fabric elements converge and interweave at the center, their intersection generates a denser and more dynamic spatial condition. The overlapping textiles create multiple layers, producing varying degrees of transparency, depth, and permeability. This accumulation of layers allows light to filter through differently across the space, casting shifting shadows and subtle gradients. The result is a rich interplay of material, layer, and light—where parallel elements, once independent, become visually and spatially interconnected through their moment of crossing.
Renderings
Preface
The introduction section uses neutral-colored fabric to create a linear pathway, gently leading visitors into the exhibition space.
Project 1
Community in Development
The layout of the project 1 in the exhibition corresponds to the original floor plans of the projects while integrating the concept of stepped levels. Architectural models on display illustrate the transformation of each site from an open plot to a completed project, showcasing both the strategic planning behind the design and the profound contributions of local communities.
Project 2
Well-organized Community
This project features two pavilion-like exhibition spaces that highlight the collaboration between traditional local organizations and international groups in village development. This cooperative model plays a crucial role in community growth, integrating local knowledge with global resources while facilitating the improvement of infrastructure and social structures. Local residents, in turn, benefit from and actively engage in this process.
Project 3 & 4
Preserving Community Traditions & Community Center
The exhibition structure for Project 3 preserves the original region’s distinctive vertical characteristics, while Project 4 adopts a radial structure extending from the center. This design emphasizes the role of the community center not only as a physical space but also as a cultural and psychological hub for the community.
Project 5
Diversity Community
The Sperkilen exhibition area showcases original designs and sources contributed by residents, offering a direct insight into how individuals from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds collaboratively shaped this vibrant community park.
Project 6
Community for Women
The community space in Rohingya exhibition focuses on how the development of a women’s community has provided local female refugees with safe housing and opportunities to generate economic value. It highlights how they have harnessed their craftsmanship to achieve financial independence, ensure physical security, and regain a sense of dignity and self-respect.
Atrium
Exhibition Engagement Activity
In the central atrium, an interactive activity is designed where the exhibition provides colorful fabric strips or yarn, along with frames and anchor points on the seating. Visitors are invited to weave around these structures, collaboratively creating sturdy and vibrant public furniture. Through this hands-on experience, they tangibly engage with and understand the power of community co-creation.
Panel Design Samples
Booklet
This booklet serves both as an introduction to each exhibition area and as a floor plan. The projects are presented in a stripe-like format within the booklet, allowing individual pieces to be pulled out, creating a “threading” experience. This design reinforces the concept of interconnected communities as visitors engage with the material.
Physical Model Photos
BACK