THE PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE - GRADUATION PROJECT

architecture bibliothèque curiosity discovering experience design graduation project journey knowledge libraries Seekingknowledge

Project Title: The pursuit of knowledge

Typology: Bibliotheca

Location: Al-Warraq, Egypt

Year: 2021

School: Architectural Engineering and Technology - Cairo University

Supervision: Dr. Injy Al-Barmelgy - TA Omar Shafik

Introduction

We have to contemplate; We have to wonder, whenever and wherever we are. Seeking is what keeps us going, and when it comes to knowledge, it’s really what is fruitful and worthwhile. In the belief that libraries of today are no longer the libraries of the day before, and that libraries are no longer just a place where people go to have a good book or do research in such a quiet space. The pursuit of knowledge tries to re-imagine and re-define the library through a whole experience of discovering, exploiting one’s nature of curiosity towards wondering and knowledge.

Concept

The library is to be a vibrant node, through which knowledge and freedom are generated, and boundaries are re-defined creating curiosity perceptible through the experience of discovering throughout the whole journey.

BIRD'S EYE VIEW

IDEA

Form Generation

Form generation starts with the idea of curiosity and experience of discovering, which created a maze towards a certain destination; For a bibliotheca, the destination is a main hall, where various activities are held as a bibliotheca’s main purpose. The destination’s main axis was a contextual result, where the axis direction is a node of intersection for the project’s different main nodes -The complex’s main node, Rod ElFarag Bridge as a conflict node in Al Warraq, The Nile River main view-. Following the bibliotheca’s aim for generating freedom, no boundaries were considered as limits, boundaries were broken; Within the knowledge’s philosophy of justification, boundaries were re-defined through justified shapes emphasizing main nodes clarified above.

Hence, the bibliotheca’s main purpose reflected on form generation’s idea is seeking knowledge through curiosity creating a maze, in which boundaries are re-defined through justified shapes.

LAYOUT

DRAWINGS

Design Idea

Justified shapes are reflected on plans creating main zones; Whether it’s vertical circulation emphasizing movement freedom between different masses/functions, or creating main functional zone of the mass.

ENTRY LEVEL FLOOR PLAN

Emphasizing the idea that the library is becoming more of a hub, where various functions take place inorder to enhance social and interactive behavior.

OTHER FLOOR LEVELS PLANS

Emphasizing the freedom the bibliotheca aims to generate; A complete free movement between various functions and masses are created through masses connections. In addition to the creation of a direct relation between complex's sub-node [Contextual aspect] and project’s main hall in upper floors.

SECTIONS

ELEVATIONS

STUDIES

STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS AND FACADE TREATMENT

Emphasizing the constant contrast between the journey and the destination, where it appears in the different aspects throughout the whole design, whether it’s structural systems, façade treatments, visual appearance.