King Fahad National Library design by Gerber Architekten #architecture #design

King Fahad National Library design by Gerber Architekten #architecture

Architect: Gerber Architekten

Location: Riad, Saudi Arabia

Competition: 2002 - 1st Prize

Construction period: 2007 - 2010

Design: Eckhard Gerber

Project director/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.

Client: Königreich Saudi-Arabien vertr. durch die Arriyadh Development Authority

Gross area: 68.500 m²

Volume: 452.000 m³

Service Engeneering: DS - Plan (Drees & Sommer Group)

Structural Framework: Bollinger & Grohmann Ingenieure in cooperation with Consulting Services Ventilation

Engineering: DS – Plan (Drees & Sommer Group) Main

Contractor: Saudi Bin Laden Group

Photographer: Christian Richters

The square new building encases the old library, which holds the archives like a treasure chest. 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. Its white membrane interprets Arabic traditions technologically and culturally in a modern way.

Source: Gerber Architekten/ Christian Richters

m i l i m e t d e s i g n – W h e r e t h e c o n v e r g e n c e o f u n i q u e c r e a t i v e s