Ismaili Centre

The Ismaili Centre in South Kensington, London, England, is one of four such centres world-wide. It is concerned with Ismaili culture, religion and social aspects, acting as a community centre and meeting place. This 1981 building is of a striking modern design by Casson Conder Partnership. A particularly interesting architectural element of the London Ismaili Centre is its roof top charbagh garden.

Immediately to the north on the opposite side of Cromwell Gardens is the Victoria and Albert Museum. To the south is Thurloe Place and to the west is Exhibition Road. The nearest tube station is South Kensington, close by to the south-west. It is linked by an underground passage that extends further north to the South Kensington museums.

Other Ismaili Centres can be found in:

Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada,

Lisbon, Portugal,

Dubai, UAE,

There is also an Ismaili Centre currently under construction in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, and a site has been prepared for construction of yet another in Toronto, Canada and in Houston, Texas, USA.

External links

* [http://www.christopherlong.co.uk/pri/ismaili.html The Ismaili Centre, London] by Christopher Long
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/people/features/place_in_paradise/islamic.shtml A Place in Paradise] - radio coverage from the BBC about the London Ismaili Centre's roof top garden
* [http://www.theismaili.org/cms/252/Opening-of-the-Ismaili-Centre-Dubai The Ismaili Centre, Dubai] - Press release, photos and video relating to the opening
* [http://www.canadianarchitect.com/issues/ISArticle.asp?story_id=159010084929&issue=03012008&PC= The Ismaili Centre, Toronto] - an article about the project, including renderings
* [http://archnet.org/library/sites/one-site.tcl?site_id=5388 ArchNet information]