The Great Library of Alexandria.
Built about five or six years ago, the Alexandria library is possibly one of the most impressive modern buildings I have ever visited. I believe that the goal was to create a modern version of the fabled Alexandria Library from ancient times - that was rumored to house more books than any other building in the world...and was lost to a fire. More than a library, the building feels like a cathedral built to celebrate the written word. The immense building is very unorthodox both from the outside as the inside.
The outside looks like a an angled stadium with lots of glass and metal. The façade, a curved surface emerging from the ground and reflecting the bright sunlight and the blue sky, reminded me of a gigantic solar panel. Once inside, the building reveals a very large open space supported by tall cement columns that reach up to an intricate ceiling. The ceiling shields the space from direct sunlight, while allowing plenty of natural light to illuminate the interiors. Some of the light is filtered through colored glass, which adds to the jewel-like effect of the architectural glass.
The interiors showcase a delicate balance of shapes, textures and finishes that create a dynamic and complex environment. The space has a very spiritual quality that combines Arabic themes with modern materials and shapes...and I could see that this could be a prototype for a modern Mosque.
The building is visited by many school children and people that also seem to use it for what is intended...a place to read books. Additionally, the library has several spaces dedicated to permanent and temporary museum exhibitions that range from architectural artifacts and Islamic calligraphy, to modern art and retrospectives of the work of local artists, musicians, film makers, etc. We walked through most of the exhibits, including a temporary exhibit of works on paper that featured hand-made books by artists from all over the world.
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