Indian misses out on Aga Khan award

MUMBAI: A house in Alibaug has missed out on being among the top five projects selected for the 2010 Aga Khan Award for architecture. Designed by architect Bijoy Jain, the eco-friendly Palmyra house is owned by industrialist Anand Mahindra. 

To minimise its impact on the landscape, the house was built without mechanical equipment, says Jain. So the foundations were dug by hand and the wooden structure crafted by six generation carpenters. "The inspiration came from this obsession to inhabit a coconut grove so we've used the bark of a local palm tree that grows naturally in this region," he says. 

The five projects that were ultimately selected include a school on a bridge in China, a textile factory in Turkey, a museum in Spain, redeveloped areas of Tunis and the landscaped wetlands of Riyadh. The awards were announced at a ceremony in Qatar on Wednesday. 

Prizes summing up to $500,000 were given to the winners.

Read more: Indian misses out on Aga Khan award - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Indian-misses-out-on-Aga-Khan-award/articleshow/6985509.cms#ixzz16l13algy