Sheikha Bedoor Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Head of the Advisory Committee of Sharjah as World Book Capital and Vice President of the International Publishers Association, inspected yesterday morning "House of Wisdom" project, which was supervised by Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), during a tour in which she was briefed on the latest developments of the project to be inaugurated in April this year.
Sheikha Bedoor Al Qasimi said: "In line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of Federal Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, whose continuous efforts exerted for 40 years led to establishing Sharjah as a global center celebrating science, innovation and culture .The Emirate has become today a vital destination for intellectuals, writers, publishers, students and those who seek knowledge. Its vision contributed to enhancing the role of knowledge in development, and House of Wisdom is only one of the exceptional projects that provide a bright image of the cultural achievements of Sharjah.
She added: "Libraries are no longer just a building that includes a collection of books and references, as individuals can have access to information in digital form from anywhere in the world. Here, the importance of the Future Library is evident in its transformation into a center for social interaction, in which individuals share their cognitive interests, and it is a common space that allows them to exchange expertise, as well as intellectual and creative experiences. It contributes to strengthening the cultural leadership, and plays a major role in promoting civilized dialogue through discussion sessions and experiences."
Design flexibility
House of Wisdom library building is located near the memorial of Sharjah, World Book Capital of 2019, and it is a high spiral engineering structure created by the famous international designer, Jerry Juda. The design of the library is inspired by the libraries of the 21st century, and mainly depends on the principle of flexibility.
The building was designed by "Foster and Partners", and it includes a ceiling suspended with metal bars of 15 meters length, to protect the main glass building and provide more shade on the bottom part. Bamboo rods specially made for the project were used to increase or reduce the shade area that protects from sunlight.
The building's glass walls design provides the highest levels of illumination for the surrounding area, reflecting the symbolic image of the library as a beacon that enlightens minds with science and knowledge.
Library courtyard
The central courtyard of House of Wisdom is located on a raised platform with an area of 12000 square meters. The courtyard is characterized by an open-ceiling design and is adorned with natural plants, a large tree and fountains that give the modern building a calm natural atmosphere, as it can be seen from all sides thanks to its transparent glass design.
Thousands of books
The remaining elements of the library were built around the courtyard, and the library includes a small presentation area and a two-storey archiving section containing the traditional library, where members can search and read. It initially includes 40,000 books, and there is a plan to increase this number to 105,000 books when it is fully operated, in addition to a wide range of Braille books.
The library building has a series of hanging areas above the central courtyard, two of which are on the ground floor and five on the upper floor, and they can be used as rows or a meeting room.
The reading area is located on the edge of the building and extends on one side, as it was designed to be a multi-use space, whether for reading or holding discussion sessions or lectures, and it can also be used to hold local art exhibitions.
As book shelves are placed on the entire space of the back wall, there is a coffee shop, a ladies' area and a children's area, providing visitors with various facilities that encourage them to read.
Manufacturing Laboratory
The library includes a specific area that can be used to hold exhibitions that extend to months or even permanent exhibitions. There are many reading areas open on the archiving section, as well as spaces for relaxation and reading. The library will also include a manufacturing laboratory equipped with a 3D printer that members can use to create prototypes for their pilot projects.
Electronic Application
House of Wisdom library developed a mobile application that can be used to have access to all its services, including reservation of facilities, book reservations, or even ordering drinks from the coffee shop.