Bibliotheca Alexandrina
Corniche El Guiesh
Alexandria, Egypt
Photo courtesy Snøhetta
The
Bibliotheca Alexandrina is a unique project representing not just the
will of individuals but also the will of a species and its desire to
learn. Our present time is the forum for the connection between the
untouchable places of past and future. The architecture is a vessel
containing a depth of meaning that cannot be easily seen in stone,
metal and glass. It rises without rising and rests without sitting. It
is malleable and should change not only with changing functional needs
but also with our restless minds that will forever reinterpret and
redefine.
THE GREAT READING ROOM
Having a diameter
of 160 meters and containing 2000 reading areas, the reading room will
be one of the largest in the world. The main space accommodates up to
500,000 volumes accessible to the public; the same number estimated to
be in the ancient library. In addition to the public access books there
is space for 5 million research books stored and available by
appointment only. The reading room is set onto 14 half levels giving it
the appearance of a giant amphitheater. The reading areas are located
at the edge of each terrace with the open access books placed just
behind the desks. Set under the next higher terrace are the closed
access books. This arrangement is unique in library planning, having
the advantage that the visitor is given an overview from any place in
the room making it easier to navigate through the large collection.
Overlooking the room is a balcony that contains the main information
desk, providing the first commanding view of the space.
Photo courtesy Snøhetta
THE STONE WALL
Consisting of 6300 square meters of hand carved stone, the exterior
facade represents one of the largest contemporary sculptural edifices
in the world. Consisting of two walls, one above and one below ground,
it is composed of Egyptian granite monoliths up to 2 meters tall. The
carvings are taken from various alphabets and symbols of the world
throughout the past, present and estimates of the future. The carvings
include musical and mathematical notation, Braille and bar-codes mixed
with familiar inscriptions. During the competition the idea for the
wall was inspired by geologic formations found along the Nile. The
varying stone dimensions represented layers of history unveiled by
erosion. The geologic atmosphere illuminates the energy of the roof
being lifted from the ground, pulling the earth along as it rotated. At
first the carvings were thought of as having a message however after
further collaboration the carvings grew abstract. The final design has
no meaning in itself and instead the qualities of each inscription
provides an overall sensibility.
Photo courtesy Snøhetta
THE PLANETARIUM
Pulled outside of the library, the planetarium and science museum are
set into a public plaza and open to the public when the library is
closed. They are connected to the surroundings by a bridge coming from
the university campus, piercing the library, passing over the
planetarium itself, and spanning out over the ancient harbor and
palisade.
Photo courtesy Snøhetta
The
planetarium is an 18 meter diameter ball suspended over a sunken garden
and was inspired by the first images of the earth as seen from the
moon. Covered in black concrete strips that are separated by light
strips, it is reminiscent of the way in which cartographers divide maps
of the earth into longitude lines, helping to identify the building
with the study of planets. It is possible to stand below the sphere in
the garden and like the mythic god Atlas support its weight upon your
shoulders. Surrounding this garden the science museum focuses upon the
role of the ancient library in the development of contemporary
technology.
Photo courtesy Snøhetta
THE ROOF
In contrast to the roughness of the stone wall, the roof is
contemporary in appearance. It has been associated with a rising sun
however this discussion was never fully settled. While derivative of a
cosmic object, the debates included both the sun and moon as meaningful
associations for the roof. The roof has associations with contemporary
technology such as the modern micro-chip making it a connection between
nature and science. Tilting at 16 degrees and rising 32 meters above
the street it will appear from the Mediterranean as a glowing disk
moving in subtle relationship to the sky.
Photo courtesy Snøhetta
Composed
of 9 x 14 meter modules, many of which are split in two with one half
being a skylight to allow northern light into the reading area, the
roof has a very 'high tech' appearance yet is actually very nearly hand
crafted. Set into the metal panels are small glass pieces that send
colors onto the floor and walls of the reading area.
THE LANDSCAPE
One of the most striking features of the landscape design is the pool
surrounding the library. This pool reflects the building into the earth
fortifying the idea that the building is not simply resting on the
ground but is a part of the earth around it. It provides a easily
visible horizontal surface to illuminate the tilting form of the
building. The pool will be planted with papyrus and native vegetation
allowing for it to be self-cleaning for most of the year. In addition,
a large public plaza connects the main entrances of the library and
existing conference center. This plaza is paved in stone and contains a
small olive grove where it extends toward the harbor. Raised slightly
above the nearby roads the plaza is designed to be quiet and
contemplative. The landscape design was made by Snøhetta and developed
in association with local experts of Egyptian vegetation to allow the
approach to be consistent with native planting and growing techniques.
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