Membrane building/King Fahad National Library
-Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Architect: Gerber Architekten; Gerber Architekten
Photographer: Christian Richters
Manufacturers: European Facade Products, Grohe, Kone, Norka lighting, RP Technik GmbH, SEFAR Architecture, Siteco, dormakaba
In November 2013, the King Fahad National Library, one of the most important cultural buildings in Saudi Arabia, was officially opened to the public.
The project, realized by the Gerber Architecture team under the leadership of Professor Eckhard Gerber, has given a great impetus to the urban development of the capital city of Riyadh and is a successful challenge to extend the existing house in a context of respect for the Arab culture.
Everything was placed in good order under a new roof
and white membranes were installed under the penetrating skylights to bring gentle light into the interior.
In these wire rope structures of gold and silver colored silk fabrics, the building’s interior and exterior sight lines are guaranteed to be transparent, even though the level of solar energy penetration is only seven percent.
In the event of outdoor temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius, this thin film layer maintains a comfortable temperature and light environment inside by optimizing the refracted light into the interior through a three-dimensional layout.
The site is connected to King Fahad Road and Olaya Street, two of Riyadh’s main roads.
The plaza of this new urban unit is on the side of Olaya Street, giving direct access to the library and providing an open space for people to relax, no matter how heavy the traffic is.
In addition, what was once a desolate and dilapidated part of the area has now been rebuilt as a green square, a new place for urban recreation.
The new library unit, together with the other green squares, creates a lively urban space.
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