An entire space dedicated to Islamic art and culture has opened its doors in Toronto, Canada. His Highness Aga Khan wanted the institution to present the vast and far-reaching Muslim traditions to as many people as possible, creating real connections between the East and the West that go beyond general knowledge to reach a deeper understanding. The museum building, designed by Fumihiko Maki, is located inside an urban park that also hosts the Ismaili Centre. The candid architecture is completely covered in precious Brazilian granite, and was constructed to make optimum use of the surrounding natural light. The central courtyard has windows decorated with Mashrabiya patterns. There are more than one thousand Islamic and Persian artifacts exhibited inside the Aga Khan Museum, including paintings, fabrics, miniatures, manuscripts, ceramics, musical instruments, hailing from all corners of the world, from the Iberian peninsula to China. They tell the story of a rich, varied, multifaceted civilization, which, especially in days like these, should be understood in its fascinating complexities.