Bibliotheca Alexandrina, to house and connect you to “the writings of all peoples”
The city of Alexandria, Egypt has gotten a new library. It was driven by a terrific vision about how to combine the heritage of the past with a revival of cultural radiance that can reach out to the entire world of the present and future. The heritage of the Ptolemies serves as the inspiration. The library will seek to continue that legacy by assembling and preserving the record of human achievement, yet it will also join with modern international information networks to serve researchers around the world.
Editor’s Introduction: Paul Wood, writing for BBC on October 16, 2002, said this:
“The formal opening of the Library of Alexandria in Egypt, rebuilt on the site of the original destroyed by fire in the 4th Century AD, has taken place. Spectacular fireworks heralded the opening of the new resource. The ceremony was attended by the Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak, and some 3,000 dignitaries from around the world, including France’s President Jacques Chirac, President Carlo Ciampi of Italy and Greece’s President Costas Stefanopoulos. In addition, people in the city were quite literally dancing in the streets outside the library. It was a proud moment for Egyptians and was marked with lavish ceremonial.”
First, please allow us to add our congratulations to the people of Egypt. Bravo to you!
We first learned of this effort in August 2001 and published a story on it. Frankly, we did not know how to categorize it. Education? Culture and the Arts? Architecture? At the time, we categorized it as “Architecture,” and, as you will see, our focus was on the architecture, so we’ll categorize it the same this time. That said, we have assembled an updated set of links for you in our “Points of Interest to Explore” section to focus your attention more on the history and culture of all this, because that is very important to understanding the significance of this museum.
We recommend you read our story of August 2001 that follows, then read the BBC overview in our “Points of Interest to Explore Section,” and then go through the rest of the links we have set up for you. This will give you a terrific insight into the history of this library, its tradition, the thought and work behind the architectural design, and the objectives Egypt hopes to achieve with this library in the future.
We were very excited about it in August 2001, we are even more excited now that it is open, and we are proud of the Egyptian people for their achievement. The Editor, October 17, 2002
In order to revive the idea of the ancient library which existed some 2000 years ago in Alexandria, Egypt, the Arab Republic of Egypt and UNESCO have set out to build one of the largest libraries in the world, housing a collection of books and rare manuscripts from the region. The library is named Bibliotheca Alexandrina.
The overall design is shown here.
It is being located on the harbor of Alexandria, Egypt, alongside the University of Alexandria Faculty of Arts campus. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea along a substantial portion of its northern frontage.
The library is being located at the far end of this port view, next to the University of Alexandria
The red dot marks the spot
It is very close to the believed location of the Ptolemy I Soter library on the grounds of the Royal Palace that thrived over 2,000 years ago.
This computer model image attempts to depict what the Bibliotheca Alexandrina was like. The model is a reconstruction based on scholarly evidence. The ancient library stored about 500,000 scrolls, and a satellite library was also used to store tens of thousands of other works elsewhere in the city. At the adjoining Museion academy, scholars made advances in math, astronomy, geometry, applied science and medicine, taking advantage of the observatory, zoo and botanical gardens on the grounds. Much of that library was destroyed by fire in 48 BC when Julius Caesar attacked Alexandria harbor, after operating for some 250 years.
The new library is scheduled to open on April 23, 2002.
A ceremony was recently held at the site and some items were placed on the shelves as the first collection. The items included a handwritten manuscript of the Muslim Quran by Ibn al-Bawab, a renowned seventh century calligrapher, a Bible, the collected novels of Egyptian Nobel-laureate Naguib Mahfouz and a copy of “The Days” by Egyptian scholar Taha Hussein. Interestingly, a copy of the Microsoft Excel 2000 handbook was also placed on the shelves.
Ismail Serrag Eddin is the general manager of the new library, and has said it will have the capacity to hold 4-8 million books. Bibliotheca Alexandrina aims to be a research institution that will attract international scholars.
The focus of our attention here is on the architecture, for the structures appear to us to be magnificent.
Some 500 entries competed for this project. Snohetta of Oslo, Norway won the contract and formed a consortium with Hanza Associates of Cairo. Snohetta leads the architectural design based upon the competition scheme and Hamza Associates provides the Detail Design and Engineering Services throughout the planning period and operates as Resident Engineer during construction.
The most prominent characteristic of the new library is its circular, tilting form; rising from the ground to reveal massive stone walls made of Aswan granite engraved with calligraphic letters and representative inscriptions from the world civilizations. The building opens toward the Mediterranean Sea.
The overall design concept is a simple circle inclined towards the sea, partly submerged in a pool of water, the image of the Egyptian sun, covered by a light roof that in contemporary terms will illuminate the world and human civilization.
The inclined roof allows indirect daylight and a clear view of the sea. Designed as an arrow, an elevated passageway links the University of Alexandria to the Corniche.
Top view of the model of the new library
Within the interior a great room, similar to traditional libraries of previous centuries, opens up, revealing the building’s form into the reading space.
Computer model of ancient library interior with terraces
The reading space is developed in an original manner, along the lines of the computer model shown here of what the ancient museum might have looked like. Terraces conceal the limited access books, providing a new standard in library planning. You can see this terrace effect in this next photo of the actual library interior.
Viewing platform at the entrance
Also housed within the building are other cultural facilities and a small school. To the exterior is a small planetarium for the general public.
Lastly the building is surrounded by a reflecting pool and large public plaza, connecting it to the city as a gathering place for contemplation and debate.
This conceptualization symbolizes a unique form cum function, which combines the heritage of the region with the intended revival of cultural radiance to reach the corners of the universe.
Foundation execution works began in January 1995. Training of manpower resources and book acquisitions began in parallel with the construction. Just so you know we are not dealing with “vaporware,” but instead real construction that is very far along, here is a recent picture of the real thing:
What is perhaps most exciting about the library is the overall concept driving it.
The heritage of the Ptolemies is used as its inspiration. Ptolemy Soter’s order at the end of the fourth century BC was to “collect all books in the world.” The new Library of Alexandria will attempt, according to its charter, to build a sum of knowledge embracing “the writings of all peoples.” To this end, it will attempt to continue the legacy of the old: to assemble and preserve the record of human achievement. But unlike its ancient ancestor, the Library will join the international information networks, with information stored in a database accessible to researchers all over the world.
POINTS OF INTEREST TO EXPLORE
Famous Egyptian library opens, by Paul Wood, October 16, 2002, presented by BBC
Alexandria Library, presented by the Egyptian State Information Service
Bibliotheca Alexandrina, perhaps with particular attention given to The Ancient Library, all of which is presented by the Egyptian government.
Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the revival of the ancient library of Egypt, and also, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, reconstruction of the Library of Alexandria, both presented by UNESCO
Alexandria Library rises from the ancient dust, presented by Monday Paper, the University of Cape Town
The Library of Alexandria, by Ellen N. Brundige, presented by Tufts University
The Alexandrian Library, presented by New Advent
The Mysterious Fate of the Great Library of Alexandria, presented by Bede’s Library
Snohetta of Oslo, Norway. Hamza Associates of Cairo, Eg