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Qatar National Library, FRAME Award Finalist / Source: FRAME Awards 2019, Learning Space of the Year.


The Qatar National Library was selected as a finalist for FRAME Awards 2019, Learning Space of the Year. Designed by OMA and Andreu World and completed in 2018. Here is an exerpt from Andreu World’s entry.


About the Project
Qatar National Library's state-of-the-art building, located in the heart of Education City, is a community space for Qatar’s residents and helps facilitate the effective exchange of ideas and communal learning.

The 45,000-square-meter building encourages visitors to explore the progression of knowledge from the past to the present. It achieves a delicate balance between information availability and accessibility on the one hand, and content preservation and conservation on the other.




What’s unique about it
World-renowned architect Rem Koolhaas's design resembles two pieces of paper that are pulled apart and folded diagonally at the corners to create a shell-like structure, enclosing the open-plan interior.

The main interior space is designed to allow a precise amount of daylight to enter and maintain a connection to the world outside. Daylight filters through the glass façade, providing natural light that is conducive to reading and socializing. The bookshelves themselves are an integral part of the building itself, rising out of the floor and highlighting the value of books in Qatari culture.

A blend of classical materials, such as marble for the Heritage Library, and modern materials, such as stainless steel for the other collections, combine to emphasize the progression of knowledge from the past to the present.

Innovative technologies are seamlessly integrated throughout the building, enhancing accessibility and efficiency without detracting from the overall aesthetic.

Read the full article.