King Fahad National Library (2002)
Schmidt Hammer Lassen - SHL
Facts:
Architect
schmidt hammer lassen architects
Client
Arriyadh Development Authority
Area
50,000 m² of new build
20,000 m² of refurbishment
Construction sum
€ 100 million excl. VAT
Competition
2002, 2nd prize in invited international competition
Status
Competition proposal
Engineer
Buro Happold Ltd.
Library Consultant
The Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP)
Landscape Architects
schmidt hammer lassen architects
Description:
The present King Fahad National Library is set in the Library Garden in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. Since Riyadh is a city with few green spaces, the extension is so designed that its park footprint is minimal.
Hence, the new library is extended as a striking floating structure above the existing library complex. And inspired by the vernacular kasbah principle, it is composed of a swathe of small units which together make up an urban fabric of streets and squares. Viewed from the outside, the building presents a skin perforated by light which offer deep vistas into the quiet courts and reading rooms. The blank façade yields a homogeneous surface – and protects the interior from the glare of the sun.
The new complex ensures the King Fahad National Library a commanding architectural position at the centre of the city, surrounded by the park as a unifying urban space.
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