The Aga Khan Museum was one of the new buildings participating in this year’s Doors Open Toronto event, but during my visit a few weeks ago there wasn’t time to see the exhibitions. Fortunately my friend Jeff had some complimentary tickets so this weekend we returned to a much less crowded museum to check out what was on display inside.

As far as museums go, the Aga Khan is not very big. A good portion of the building is dedicated to a recital hall and auditorium, leaving the remaining space for display areas. The ground floor houses the gallery for the museum’s permanent collection. Articles include artwork, metalwork, ceramics and manuscripts from various eras of Muslim civilization across the world. On the second floor you’ll find temporary displays and visiting exhibitions. Throughout the building a mix of natural and artificial light combines to accentuate the clean lines of the architecture and enhance the museum experience. Many of the items on display are beautifully crafted with intricate detailing and rich traditions.