OMA's qatar national library nears completion in doha

OMA’s qatar national library nears completion in doha
all images courtesy of pygmalion karatzas with permission of the qatar foundation

construction is nearing completion in doha at the site of qatar’s national library (QNL). designed by rem koolhaas of OMA, the institution forms part of the region’s ‘education city’ – the qatar foundation’s 2,500 acre campus masterplanned by architect arata isozaki. the project will offer residents of qatar state-of-the-art public facilities and technologies alongside a variety of learning spaces, performance venues and cafés.

the institution forms part of the region’s ‘education city’ masterplanned by architect arata isozaki

the complex will host three primary functions: the national library – a source of global knowledge relevant to the region; the university and research library – an educational support facility; and a metropolitan public library of the digital age. the latter delivers universal and shared information boasting 60 online databases and over 300 computers.

entrance to the qatar national library

‘to realize qatar foundation’s vision of a library with a million books in its main collection, we conceived a building in which the entire collection would be instantly visible within a single space,’ explained OMA. ‘our design for the education city central library, with an area of 42,000 square meters, provides unprecedented immediate access to books, a reactionary approach to re-empower books as the primary medium of education and information in the age of digital technology.

‘the library’s form consists of two square plates (138m wide), pulled apart and folded diagonally at the corners to create a shell-like container. the sloped interior surfaces of the plates create three large terraces that are stacked with 300 bookshelves, visible from a central communal space called the urban plaza. the library employs advanced technologies such as automated book sorting systems, people movers, and electronic tagging to facilitate the easy retrieval of any of the million books in the collection.‘

the institution will help shift qatar towards a knowledge-based economy

‘the library’s vision of bridging with knowledge qatar’s heritage and future demonstrates the significant role QNL will play in unlocking human potential, as qatar builds a knowledge-based economy’, explained chairperson of the qatar foundation, her highness sheikha moza bint nasser. ‘a modern dynamic national library for the country is essential in reaching this goal.’

the project remains on track to open to the public in 2015.

the project will offer residents of qatar state of the art public facilities and technologies

the structure’s roof canopy under construction

detail of eastern elevation and glazing

the project is on track to open to the public in 2015

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project info:

design architect: OMA

executive architect: OMA

contractor: brookfield multiplex medgulf

project/construction management: astad project management

construction period: 2011 – 2014

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

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