The new national library of Saudi Arabia is located in Riad directly next to the Fasilia Tower of Sir Norman Foster.
The square new building encases the old library, which holds the archives like a treasure chest. The planning aims to convert the old library in combination with the new one.
This creates a quadratic building with a side length of 120 metres. The old roof will be a reading room, whereas its newly designed dome remains visible above the flat roof of the new building.
A three-dimensional steel wire construction serves as an external sun protection. The climate in Riad mainly exists of sunshine and outside temperature of around 50°C in summer times.
The wish of the architects is a steep membrane façade around the building which combines the necessary sun protection with a transparent view to the outside.
An optimization of the membrane façade to the local sun situation was only possible with complex, three dimensional light calculations.
The ventilation and cooling of the building is planned with level ventilation and floor cooling.
So the thermal comfort can be extremely improved and the energy effort reduces – this is unique and innovative in the Arabic area. Its white membrane interprets Arabic traditions technologically and culturally in a modern way.
Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Architect: Eckhard Gerber Project manager: Thomas Lücking
Project Team: Tiran K. Driver, Nicola Gerber, Thomas Helms, Till Müller (LA) Kerstin Tulke, René Koblank, Olaf Ballerstedt, Nils Kummer, Britta Alker, Alexandra Kranert, Henrike Schlinke, Michael Schlegel, Ulrich Scheinhardt, Jörg Schoeneweiß, Beate Mack, Sabine Diegritz (LA), Stefan Lemke et al.
Gross area: 68.500 m²
Volume: 452.000 m³
Year: 2007 – 2010
Client: Königreich Saudi-Arabien vertr. durch die Arriyadh Development Authority
Competition: 2002 - 1st Prize