La banque d'un monde qui change 2004 - BNP Paribas

156développement durable157A Mythical LibraryBecomes a PivotFor Multicultural Exchangesin AlexandriaSNOHETTACraig Dykers, Christoph Kapellerand Kjetil Traedal ThorsenArchitects of the Library of AlexandriaSnøhetta - Clients of BNP Paribas - OsloIt requires daring to dream of recreatingthe ancient library of Alexandria, destroyedmore than two thousand years ago. It takes evengreater audacity to propose a building designin the form of a tilting granite disc which is partiallysubmerged below ground. Fortunately, neitherthe sponsors of the project nor the Norwegian firmof architects Snøhetta, were lacking either of theseattributes. In 2004, their architectural achievement,named Bibliotheca Alexandrina, was honouredwith the Aga Khan Award for Architecture. Locatedon a site close to Alexandria’s waterfront,the library “symbolises the sun and moon,both of which were icons of ancient Egyptian culture”.Thanks to the efforts of the Egyptian government,as well as the support of Unesco and countriessuch as Norway, Alexandria once again boastsa world-class centre of learning and erudition.Reflecting the modernity of its architectureand its stature as a centre for cultural exchange,the library is managed by an international boardof trustees. “Building with recyclable materialsand integrating architecture with nature are essentialgiven the constraints of demographic pressuresand ever-increasing competition for scarce resources.”The library, which houses three museums,a planetarium, exhibition galleries and researchcentres, has been enthusiastically receivedby tourists and locals alike and has becomethe most visited monument in the city.