Of course I had to put this one :
Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2001
SOS Children's Village
Aqaba, Jordan
On the outskirts of Aqaba, Jordan's outlet to the Red Sea, a sensitive new project has fused a modern design vocabulary with a renewal of the local building vernacular to create a haven for orphaned children. Thoughtfully scaled and arranged and environmentally friendly, the SOS Children's Village succeeds in providing a place where children can feel at home. (…)Details that enliven the exterior spaces include solid-wood window frames and mashrabiyyas, or screens, which filter the light of the harsh sun. Traditional ventilation techniques have been implemented and the dwellings enjoy good thermal insulation so maintenance requirements are minimal. Domestic hot water is provided by solar panels.Perhaps the most innovative aspect of the design is its use of a traditional cladding of random granite stones. Drawing on the example of the few remaining traditional buildings in Aqaba's old town, the architect implemented a study of the best way to build with the natural stone found in the nearby mountains. The architect specified that the stone was "not to be mechanically cut or dressed but [had to] remain completely natural". Having mastered the process, the builder and contractor were able to train others, contributing to a revival of traditional building techniques. At the same time, modern elements were introduced, with wooden structural elements replaced by pre-cast concrete.
The Aga Khan Award for Architecture, established in 1977 by His Highness the Aga Khan, recognises examples of architectural excellenc
Thinf Hassan Fathy or Diébédo Francis Kéré and you’ll get my point