Press Release - The International Freedom Center

February, 2005

Snohetta wins leading architecture prize

Snohetta, the architects for the International Freedom Center, were recently awarded the prestigious Aga Khan Award for Architecture for the cycle 2002-2004 for the Bibliotecha Alexandrina in Alexandria, Egypt.

The Alexandria Library opened in October 2002. Snohetta won an international competition to design the structure in 1994, and construction took place between 1995 and 2001. The Award for the Library was one of seven Aga Khan Awards in 2004, out of 378 nominees. The nine-member Master Jury for the Award consisted of architects, artists and scholars from seven nations, including New Yorker Billie Tsien. The Award Steering Committee, chaired by the Aga Khan, includes Museum ofModern Art Director Glenn Lowry.

As described by the Aga Khan Development Network, the Alexandria Library is “a revival of the legendary ancient library built in classical Greek times." The rebuilding of the library has returned Alexandria to its former status as a centre for learning and exchange and provided the city with a landmark building. The spirit of international cooperation in which the library was conceived, funded, designed and implemented has been maintained in its management to create an institution that is truly global in its outlook.

The jury citation for the award noted Snohetta’s “innovative approach to the design and placement of a large, symbolic form on one of the most important waterfronts in the world. From its inception through an international competition to its design and construction by many international companies, and in its current financial management, the project provides a model for other such projects in bringing together the international community and encouraging cooperation and commitment from society as a whole.”

The jury continued, “While the building is groundbreaking in architectural and technological terms, it also responds sensitively to a wide spectrum of issues, including politics, religion, culture and history. The jury continued, “While the building is groundbreaking in architectural and technological terms, it also responds sensitively to a wide spectrum of issues, including politics, religion, culture and history. The bold ‘tilted disc’ forms an icon while delivering a highly formal and monumental building. The technical challenges of constructing such a large development close to the water’s edge and within an urban setting have been embraced and dealt with through the use of advanced technologies. The form also provides a clear organization and functions well for the rich variety of programs it houses, while acting as a catalyst for improvements throughout the city. Finally, the project celebrates learning and brings knowledge to societies across all cultures, playing a crucial role in the progress of civilization.”

“The library was designed as a tilting disc rising from the ground, with four levels below ground and seven above. The scale of the building is thus minimized at close quarters, so it does not overwhelm the visitor. The facility provides a main reading room with seating for 2,000 readers, six specialist libraries, three museums, seven research centres, three permanent galleries, space for temporary exhibitions, a planetarium, a public plaza, offices, a cafeteria and all the necessary services required for such a complex. The circular form of the library also has strong symbolic significance and an iconic presence. Its exterior wall is clad with four thousand granite blocks carved with letters from the alphabets of the world.

“The substructure of the library is the most innovative part of the project. The half submersion of the building 18 metres below ground on a site close to the sea raised serious structural problems. Its circular diaphragm wall is considered the largest in the world, with a diameter of 160 metres and a height of 35 metres. The foundations are unique in that they were designed as tension piles with a heavy raft foundation on the south side and as compression piles to take the weight on the north side.

“One of the most successful features of the building is its use of natural light, drawn in through glazed panels on the roof. The orientation of the roof panels was carefully studied on computer at the design stage to introduce maximum levels of natural light without direct sunlight.

“The library and the planetarium are linked at basement level, beneath a public plaza, to an existing conference centre, while a pedestrian bridge spans the plaza between the university and the coastal road.”

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