Opened in 2014, The Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, Canada, offers visitors a window into worlds unknown or unfamiliar: the artistic, intellectual, and scientific heritage of Muslim civilizations across the centuries, from the Iberian Peninsula to China. The museum’s mission is to foster a greater understanding and appreciation of the contribution that Muslim civilizations have made to world heritage.
Our Involvement
In designing the Museum, Fumihiko Maki, winner of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, used light as his inspiration. Not only is light ever-present in the building, but depending on time, day, or season, it animates the landscape. The Ismaili Toronto Center, located across the park, is connected to the Museum through a series of granite-lined pools in the formal gardens, designed by Landscape Architect Vladimir Djurovic. The water in the pools mirror the elegant structures, and contributes to the garden’s purpose of providing a space for calm spiritual reflection.
Approached by world-renowned architectural firm Moriyama Teshima Architects, our Creative Director, Simon Gardiner, was entrusted with bringing Vladimir’s vision to life. Working alongside Lead Principal Drew Wensley of Moriyama Teshima Architects from the initial design phase in July 2006 until its commissioning in July 2014, our team functioned as the Water Feature Designer and Product Manufacturer.
The space showcases Vladimir’s conceptual brilliance, featuring five reflective pools, which served as a centerpiece of Vladimir’s design. In collaborating, we worked on intricate architectural details, proposing lighting schemes, layouts, and componentry that complemented the overall design, such as a lighting scheme that would dance upon the surface of the pools like stars in the night sky. This architectural endeavor beautifully exemplifies the synergy between visionary concepts and meticulous execution, pushing the boundaries of creative possibilities.
The Design
Composed of three-meter-long large granite weirs, standing at a height of approximately 450 millimeters within the pools, the pool’s unique wedge shape was meticulously devised to eliminate shadows along its edge. Notably, the absence of shadow in the lower left corner highlights the precision of this design element. However, this achievement was not solely aesthetic. It hinged on the intricate integration, fabrication, and on-site installation of these stones. Translating the CAD drawing into reality posed challenges, underscoring the need for meticulous planning. The result is more than a visual delight; it’s a seamless interplay of architectural design, lighting expertise, and engineering ingenuity, culminating in a reflective surface that redefines spatial aesthetic.
“ The primary water feature design challenge was the architectural detailings on how to create an incredible reflecting skin with no shadow edges and the integration of the building with the equipment space being so far away. “
Simon Gardiner
Director of Business Development
(At Crystal Fountains since 1998)
Fostering Serenity
The Aga Khan Museum’s water feature is the culmination of over 12 years of dedicated work and having the privilege of being involved from the initial design concept to commissioning and continuous maintenance has been an incredible feat. This enduring commitment has resulted in an iconic space that offers visitors a serene environment for contemplation, embodying the museum’s ethos of harmonizing art and architecture for a tranquil experience.
