KING FAHAD NATIONAL LIBRARY

Riyadh | Saudi Arabia

Awards

WINNER

 Aga Kahn Award for Architecture 2016

SHORTLIST

MIPIM Award 2015, Special Jury Award

FINALIST

Architizer A+ Award 2015

WINNER

Iconic Award Product 2014

YEAR

2008

STATUS

Completed

TYPE

Cultural and Institutional

SERVICE

Tensile Structures | Special Structures

FINAL CLIENT

Arriyadh Development Authorithy

CLIENT

Ali Tamimi Sons Co.

ARCHITECT

Gerber Architekten

ENGINEER

Bollinger + Grohmann

MATERIALS

Steel | Cables | PTFE

SURFACE

86,500 m2

The key element of the façade was especially developed for the new building. The cladding is made up of rhomboid textile awnings, marked by its revealing-and-concealing play.
This filigree steel cable structure has a solar penetration level of only 7%, and at the same time makes it possible to look both in and out. Given exterior temperatures of up to 50° Celsius, the membrane façade, which was optimised in relation to the local sun path by means of complex, three-dimensional light refraction, combines the required protection from the sun with maximum light penetration and transparency.

This façade was combined with ventilation and cooling for the building by means of layered ventilation and floor cooling. This way, thermal comfort is increased and energy consumption significantly reduced by using certain methods and technologies for the first time in the Arab world.
Maffeis’ engineers developed the rhomboid textile awnings into two patterns, which requested a tailoring process for patterning.