Light Upon Light: Inside Ottawa's Spectacular New Landmark - The Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat
Keywords: The Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, Ottawa, Canada
Abstact: It sparkles like a brilliant jewel, shining whiter than the fresh snow that blankets its wintry landscape. The Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, Ottawa's newest landmark, is a graceful marriage of East and West. Situated on a prime section of Sussex Drive with the Saudi embassy on one side and the Department of Foreign Affairs on the other, the building features a confluence of traditional Islamic motifs and contemporary materials -its intent to serve as "a metaphor for humanism and enlightenment" reflected in both exterior and interior. The shapes of its structures, the flows of its space, the sightlines, the materials and the finishing, all serve to accentuate the effect of light.
Author
Professor Karim H. Karim
Professor Karim H. Karim was Co-Director of the Institute of Ismaili Studies from 2009 to 2011. He previously was Director of Carleton University’s School of Journalism and Communication in Ottawa, Canada. Prior to joining academia, Professor Karim held positions as a Senior Researcher and Senior Policy Analyst in the Department of Canadian Heritage, was a reporter for Inter Press Service (Rome) and Compass News Features (Luxembourg), and worked as a Religious Education Co-ordinator in the Ismailia Association for Canada.
