Libraries have long stood as some of the grandest and most impressive buildings in cultures throughout history, and the new Qatar National Library is in line with that millennia-old tradition. Designed by Rem Koolhaas, Ellen van Loon, and Iyad Alsaka, the new public facility is a beautiful testament to the power of collective knowledge.
The building is broadly shaped like a prism, which serves as a metaphor. Prisms have the ability to break white light apart into the colors of the visible spectrum, and in the same way, the Qatar National Library is meant to help the citizens of the country break apart the monolith of knowledge and find what they need.
Image Credit: <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="https://iwan.com/">Iwan Baan</a>, Delfino Sisto Legnani and Marco Cappelletti, Hans Werlemann
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Prismatic Architecture
- Architects are designing buildings with prism shapes to create new metaphors for collective knowledge.
- Public Libraries
- Public libraries are being designed as national symbols for collective knowledge.
- Cultural Architecture
- Cultural buildings like libraries are becoming symbols of national identity and architecture is reflecting that idea.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Architecture
- Architecture firms and developers can capitalize on the trend of prismatic design to create new and innovative public buildings.
- Library Services
- Library services can develop and enhance their facilities to reflect the importance of knowledge sharing and community engagement.
- Cultural Preservation
- Organizations focused on cultural preservation can develop facilities that foster a connection to national identity and the power of collective knowledge.
