Ismaili Centre, London
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The Ismaili Centre, London, is one of six Ismaili Centres worldwide. Established in
South Kensington South Kensington is a district at the West End of Central London in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Historically it settled on part of the scattered Middlesex village of Brompton. Its name was supplanted with the advent of the ra ...
in 1979, it is a religious, social and cultural meeting place for the
Ismaili Ismailism () is a branch of Shia Islam. The Isma'ili () get their name from their acceptance of Imam Isma'il ibn Jafar as the appointed spiritual successor ( imām) to Ja'far al-Sadiq, wherein they differ from the Twelver Shia, who accept ...
Muslim community, the first so designed in the Western world.


Establishment

The Ismaili Centre, London was inaugurated on 24 April 1985 by then
Prime Minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...
Margaret Thatcher Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher (; 13 October 19258 April 2013), was a British stateswoman who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990 and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of th ...
, in the presence of His Highness the Aga Khan, the 49th Imam (spiritual leader) of the Ismaili Muslims. It was the first religious, cultural and social space specifically designed for the Ismaili community in the
Western world The Western world, also known as the West, primarily refers to various nations and state (polity), states in Western Europe, Northern America, and Australasia; with some debate as to whether those in Eastern Europe and Latin America also const ...
. The Ismaili community had been in the United Kingdom since as early as 1951, when they established a religious, cultural and social centre at Kensington Court. It was moved to Palace Gate in 1957, but the needs of the growing community increased over time, and a site at Cromwell Gardens was acquired in the 1970s. Lord Soames, the then
Lord President of the Council The Lord President of the Council is the presiding officer of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom and the fourth of the Great Officers of State, ranking below the Lord High Treasurer but above the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal. The Lor ...
, laid the foundation stone of the new Centre on 6 September 1979, in the presence of the Aga Khan. Construction began in July 1980.


Surroundings and site history

Cromwell Gardens in
London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
's South Kensington district where the Ismaili Centre is situated is a prominent location with a storied past. Immediately to the north on the opposite side of Cromwell Gardens is the
Victoria and Albert Museum The Victoria and Albert Museum (abbreviated V&A) in London is the world's largest museum of applied arts, decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 2.8 million objects. It was founded in 1852 and named after Queen ...
. To the south is
Thurloe Place John Thurloe (June 1616 – 21 February 1668) was an English politician who served as secretary to the council of state in Protectorate England and spymaster for Oliver Cromwell and held the position of Postmaster General between 1655 and 1660 ...
and to the west is
Exhibition Road Exhibition Road is a street in South Kensington, London which is home to several major museums and academic establishments, including the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Science Museum, London, Science Museum and the Natural History Museum, Lon ...
. The nearest tube station is
South Kensington South Kensington is a district at the West End of Central London in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Historically it settled on part of the scattered Middlesex village of Brompton. Its name was supplanted with the advent of the ra ...
, close by to the south-west. It is linked by an underground passage that extends further north to the South Kensington museums. The site had previously been owned by the Shakespeare Memorial National Theatre Committee, who in 1937 intended to construct a National Theatre on the site. However, the outbreak of the
Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
and a later realisation that the site was too small for their ambitions scuttled their plans. In the 1860s, seven houses had been constructed on the plot, which was given the name "Cromwell Gardens". However, by 1912, heavy traffic around the site made the houses unattractive. Plans to establish a new
Royal College of Art The Royal College of Art (RCA) is a public university, public research university in London, United Kingdom, with campuses in South Kensington, Battersea and White City, London, White City. It is the only entirely postgraduate art and design uni ...
never materialised, but for a short spell Cromwell Gardens was home to the Institut Français. After being earmarked for the National Theatre project, renowned British architect
Sir Edwin Lutyens Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens ( ; 29 March 1869 – 1 January 1944) was an English architect known for imaginatively adapting traditional architectural styles to the requirements of his era. He designed many English country houses, war memorials ...
and Cecil Masey were appointed to design the site's new building and a building committee was established. Among its members was the English actor and theatre director Sir
Lewis Casson Sir Lewis Thomas Casson (26 October 187516 May 1969) was an English actor and theatre director, and the husband of actress Dame Sybil Thorndike.Devlin, DianaCasson, Sir Lewis Thomas (1875–1969) ''The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' ...
, whose nephew, Sir
Hugh Casson Sir Hugh Maxwell Casson (23 May 1910 – 15 August 1999) was a British architect, also active as an interior designer, an artist, and a writer and broadcaster on twentieth-century design. He was the director of architecture for the 1951 Fest ...
, eventually designed the Ismaili Centre. When the theatre project fell through, the site lingered and fell in stature. When the plot was acquired for the Ismaili Centre in the late 1970s, it hosted a car-hire depot and a pre-fab office. Journalist Christopher Long, described the land between
Thurloe Place John Thurloe (June 1616 – 21 February 1668) was an English politician who served as secretary to the council of state in Protectorate England and spymaster for Oliver Cromwell and held the position of Postmaster General between 1655 and 1660 ...
and
Cromwell Road Cromwell Road is a major London road in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, designated as part of the A4 road (Great Britain), A4. It was created in the 19th century and is said to be named after Richard Cromwell, son of Oliver Cromwel ...
as "arguably the most prominent and prestigious plot of development land in west London."


Architecture

The area surrounding the Ismaili Centre includes prominent buildings with imposing façades such as the
Natural History Museum A natural history museum or museum of natural history is a scientific institution with natural history scientific collection, collections that include current and historical records of animals, plants, Fungus, fungi, ecosystems, geology, paleo ...
and the Victoria and Albert Museum. The Centre's architectural called for the building to be compatible with its surroundings, while remaining true to the Islamic architectural tradition. The building that Casson Conder Partnership produced is of a strikingly modern design. The exterior materials in whites, light greys and blues do not compete with those of the surrounding buildings. The Centre is subdued, yet it is bears a distinctly Islamic character. A particularly interesting architectural element is its roof-top
charbagh A ''charbagh'' or ''chaharbagh'' (; , , ) is a Persian gardens, Persian and Indo-Persian quadrilateral garden with a layout of four gardens traditionally separated by waterways, together representing the four gardens and rivers of Paradise, ...
garden. Its design was not without its detractors, and it was the first (1982) winner of ''
Private Eye ''Private Eye'' is a British fortnightly satirical and current affairs (news format), current affairs news magazine, founded in 1961. It is published in London and has been edited by Ian Hislop since 1986. The publication is widely recognised ...
''s Hugh Casson Award for "worst new building of the year". Its "lumpishness, banality, repetitiveness and repulsiveness of texture" was cited as its reason for winning.


Ethos and purpose

Conceived in a "spirit of peace and dialogue, the search for knowledge and human dignity," the Ismaili Centre embodies the Ismaili community's own outlook and understanding of "Islam as a thinking, spiritual faith." At the Centre's opening ceremony, the Aga Khan pledged the Centre as a "token of understanding between East and West" — it is a pledge that the Centre has gone on to fulfil. Over the past 25 years, the Centre has opened its doors to the general public for exhibitions, lectures, and debates. Tens of thousands have experienced the building through guided tours conducted by trained volunteers, including royalty from various countries, prime ministers and senior political figures, leaders of industry, religious leaders, famous personalities, and regular Londoners. Since 2000, the Ismaili Centre has also participated in London's annual Open House, as well as Exhibition Road Music Day, a London version of '' Fête de la Musique''. By experiencing the architecture of the building and taking part in its programs, visitors broaden their understanding of Islam and its ethics, and of Muslim peoples and their values. This was observed by
Prince Charles Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948) is King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms. Charles was born at Buckingham Palace during the reign of his maternal grandfather, King George VI, and ...
at the inauguration of ''Spirit and Life'', an exhibition of the Aga Khan Museum collection that was held at the Centre: "I can only applaud your emphasis on intellectual and cultural exploration as a means of integration, and your determination to discharge your obligations as citizens of this country without losing your own distinctive traditions," he said of the Ismaili community in his inaugural remarks. "I have no doubt that the existence of shared values is a key defining factor. These values celebrate humility, greatness of soul, honour, magnanimity and, indeed, hospitality. They form the bedrock of the excellent outreach work of the Ismaili Centre."


More information

* Ismaili Centres around the world
official website
* Ismaili Centre, Vancouver
official website
* Ismaili Centre, Lisbon
official website
* Ismaili Centre, Dubai
official website
* Ismaili Centre, Dushanbe
official website
) * Ismaili Centre, Toronto
official website
)


References


External links

* * *{{cite news , title=The Ismaili Centre, South Kensington , author=Christopher Long , newspaper=London Portrait Magazine , date=April 1985 , url=http://www.christopherlong.co.uk/pri/ismaili.html
A Place in Paradise
- radio coverage from the
BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
about the London Ismaili Centre's roof top garden
ArchNet: Ismaili Centre
Mosques completed in 1985 Cultural and educational buildings in London
London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
Religion in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Community centres in London Charbagh gardens in the United Kingdom Ismaili Centre, London South Kensington 1985 establishments in England