The cuboid
shape of the new building surrounds the old 1980s library building on all
sides, thus giving the National Library a new appearance in the cityscape. It
is clad by lozenge-shaped textile awnings, which playfully combine revelation
and concealment. White membranes, supported by a three-dimensional,
tensile-stressed steel cable structure, act as sunshades and reinterpret the
Arabian tent structure tradition in a low-energy way. One particular challenge
for the facade is the wide range of temperatures in Riyadh. In summer the steel
cables can heat up to a temperature of 80°C and will expand while in winter
they can shrink because of night time temperatures sometimes below zero. These
effects had to be taken into account in optimising the tension of the cables. Thermal
comfort was increased and energy consumption significantly reduced by layered
ventilation and floor cooling for the first time in the Arab world. The old
building is now an internal stack, forming the centre of knowledge within the
new library. Its dome has been reconstructed in steel and glass to bring in
daylight and the former roof of the existing building now provides a well-lit
reading landscape. The main entrance hall is on the ground floor, and a
separate area for women is provided on the first floor.
Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture
