A modern interpretation of a traditional courtyard house, the CASID building is not however inward-looking; rather, it knits itself into its landscape, with the eastern part of the structure rooted in the landscape, perpendicular to the slope, and the western part hovering above it with the main street entrance, while the southern part acts as an extension to the landscape itself. The courtyard below is fully open to the surrounding views, and is the heart of the building, with a lecture theatre that defines its northern end and a cafe and exhibition space at its east. The large entrance colonnade and its concrete soffit are expected to become covered in climbing ivy.

Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture