Ismaili.NET - Heritage F.I.E.L.D.

The foundation stone ceremony was performed in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on August 30, 2003 in presence of the Imam, President Rahmonov of Tajikistan, the Mayor Ubaidulloev and other distinguished leaders. The Imam launched a landmark cultural center in Dushanbe, marking a milestone in the 1300-year history of the jamat in Central Asia. The landscaped complex that will initiate a revitalization of cultural, educational and contemplative space and urban regeneration in Dushanbe, will also be the first permanent place of gathering and organization for the jamat of Central Asia.

Within an environment carefully designed to evoke the natural beauty of this region, the Ismaili Centre, Dushanbe will embody and articulate in a physical form, an architectural vocabulary that is quintessentially Central Asian, deeply rooted in Islamic traditions of intellectual search, of spirituality, of compassion, of generosity and of a shared understanding of pluralism. The prestigious site of 25,500 square meters is situated in the center of the city. Collaboration between and amongst architectural, engineering, landscaping and construction specialists from Tajikistan and Canada as well as consultative input from experts based in South Asia, Africa, the Near East and the Gulf will enrich the international dimension of this project. FDNA Architecture, Inc., which has taken a lead role in the planning and interior design, has to its credit, major cultural complexes, educational institutions and tourism development properties across North America, in Pakistan and in East Africa. Farouk Noormohamed, a principal with the firm, already has to his credit a number of Jamatkhana projects in North America. A range of multipurpose areas within the complex will include indoor and outdoor recreational and leisure space, facilities for exhibitions, lectures, the performing arts and musical recitals, as well as classrooms and meeting rooms and designated areas for contemplation and prayer.

Besides, the Ismaili Centre is under construction in Ottawa too.