The library's form and placement knits several disparate buildings into a coherent urban fabric. The building establishes a continuity of the Corniche Peninsula and engages the site with the Mediterranean beyond connecting the university with the coast by means of a landscaped library precinct. The tree lined gardens creates a social element in the centre of the scheme, providing a connection and formal response between the library and an existing conference hall. The rear façade of the library completes a square created between the wings of an adjacent hospital.

The library conceptually draws from the original relationship between the bookcase and the study table. The open access collections are arranged as a single wall of books with the reading areas separate but connected within the main library hall. The wall of books marks the threshold between public and private domains of the library. This arrangement allows casual surveillance of the public areas by the library staff while avoiding any operational compromises in their normal duties. Since a library is inherently introspective, internal vistas are equally as important as external views. The chasm-like library hall allows dramatic views of the giant wall of open access books that is impressive by its sheer magnitude. The chasm provides a constant means of orientation helped by the individual characters of each area created by the use of different materials and the freeform nature of the plan.

The form and orientation of the library is such that it always presents a small profile to the sun minimising unwanted solar gain, furthermore all solid walls are tiled to reflect this unwanted heat. The construction of each façade differs according to its orientation to the sun; Passive environmental techniques have been used wherever possible by adopting and adapting local precedents. Wind scoops catch prevailing breezes and vegetation is used to filter dust and cool the air. The library's heavy construction acts as a thermal flywheel, stabilising the internal temperature throughout the daily cycle. The stair towers of the library's southern wall contain 'trombe walls' - passive energy collectors that aid ventilation in the summer and collect heat in the winter. Fresh air is pre-cooled as it passes over a shaded lake of water under the building before being drawn in. The roof of the library contains large arrays of photovoltaic panels that contribute a significant amount of clean electricity to the library. Natural light, modified by filters, louvers and light-wells, is used wherever possible to minimise artificial lighting during daylight hours, while unique task luminaries promote the individual identity of the separate areas.

Le Corbusier's system of proportion 'Le Modulor' has been adopted in the design. The mathematical basis and universal principals developed from the golden section were particularly appropriate for an international project and provide a unifying influence over such a large complex built with modern construction techniques. The Modular also relates to traditional Islamic ideas regarding the treatment of facades through the use of tiling and abstract geometries.

The scheme was awarded 'Special Merit' ' '...For the richness of its references to the regional culture and for its site organization, combining curves and rigidity' - from the Bibliotheca Alexandrina International Architectural Competition Concours International D'Architecture p.206

Frank Lyons
Joy Batten
Alison Holleyoak
Ian Helliwell
Gary Overton
Mark Pearson

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