OMA’s Plans for “Iconic” Qatar National Library
Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser has announced the launch of the Qatar National Library (QNL), to be designed by Rem Koolhaas of OMA.
The QNL, a public access library, will symbolically connect the country’s past and future. As her highness explained: “The library’s vision of bridging with knowledge Qatar’s heritage and future demonstrates the significant role QNL will play in unlocking human potential as Qatar builds a knowledge-based economy. A modern dynamic National Library for the country is essential in reaching this goal.”
As such, Rem Koolhass – an architect known both for his iconic structures as well as his success with the Seattle Public Library - has been hand-picked for the important design, soon to be, according to the QNL website, ”one of the most [...] iconic landmarks in Qatar and the region.” As a library on the cutting-edge of digital archiving, the building will require innovative facilities (including over 300 public computers, wifi and multi-media production studios); however, it will also serve the community as a relaxed, social gathering place.
More images of OMA’s plans for the Qatar National Library, after the break….
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – East Liberty Branch Addition and Renovation / EDGE Studio
Architect: EDGE Studio
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Project Team: Anne Chen AIA LEED AP, Jonathan Eggert AIA, Amanda Markovic, Stephen Mrdjenovich, Matthew Manzo
Project Year: 2010
Photographs: Ed Massery
AD Round Up: Libraries Part I
In less than a year of existence, we have featured more than 500 projects! So in case you´ve missed some we will be featuring interesting projects, sorted by building type. Here´s our first selection of Libraries you can´t miss.
España Library
This library by Giancarlo Mazzanti, finished its construction in 2007 and is located in Santo Domingo Colombia. The Project is located on one of the hillsides that have been affected by the violence since the 80´s because of the drug traffic network that operates in the city of Medellin. It is part of the government’s social master plan program to give equal economic and social opportunities to the population (read more…)
Central Library, Universidad Católica del Norte
Built by Marsino Arquitectos, this architectural container materializes the gathering in spaces to develop the social role of contemporary libraries, distant from the old archive-like approach for libraries. Its facade consolidates the institutional image of the University, that has been developed as a series of temporary constructions (read more…)
Chongqing Library
Perkins Eastman’s design for the new Chongqing Library, a stunning 540,000 sf urban complex, evolved from a central idea of expressing the freedom and importance of knowledge. Conceived as a cultural and civic icon, the library goes beyond the notion that a library is simply a repository for books-incorporating a concert hall, gallery space, conference facilities, restaurant, and a hotel for visiting scholars (read more…)
Ilhavo City Library
Constructed by ARX PORTUGAL, the building is located on the periphery of the town of Ilhavo in Portugal, an area with little urban expansion, still fairly inarticulated and problematic. We chose not only to design an object, the library, but to intervene in the clarification and consolidation of urban fragments and volumes with no apparent overall coherence (read more…)
Turku City Library
By JKMM Architects, the new city library in Turku, Finland is located at the historical centre of the city. The building is the latest addition to a block with the old library and several other historically valuable buildings. The historical and cultural value of the site presented a great challenge for the planning of the new building. The objective of the project was to create a new construct, which would harmonize with the historically invaluable setting while also manifesting an architecture of its own age (read more…)
