Extending across the eastern Savannah to the western mountains and Known as the land of a thousand hills, Rwanda’s found in east central Africa. It borders democratic republic of Congo in the west, Uganda in the north, Tanzania in the east, and Burundi in the South.
Rwanda has striven to rebuild its economy, with coffee and tea production among its main exports, and economic development has helped reduce poverty and inequality.
The synthesis between the layered / fragmented architecture , as well as the social dimension and the vision of a library that connects / links the past to the presents produces a volume grouped according to the relationships of each program, and is “connected” by a central space which links all the other program creating an architecture that looks fragmented on the outside yet compacted/connected from within.
The dynamic heart of the library, fittingly titled “The Stair,” acts as both a uniting element and an appealing entryway, perfectly merging the library with its urban surroundings. Inspired by the topography of the site, nestled at an elevation of 20 meters, the concept of The Stair emerged as a solution to enhance circulation and minimize the need for extensive excavation. This central stairway runs the length of the library, representing a link between the vibrant city life and the refuge of knowledge inside.
Structurally, the composition of the building is replicated in all 4 Programs. With them architectural theme of “studying in a cave”, the entire structure is designed with pigmented concrete reinforced. The structure begins with its vertical elements made of pigmented reinforced cast-in-situ shear walls which rise up all through to the last level.
To suspend the central shear walls which forms a cube over the ground floor, a special structure called the Vierendeel beam is introduced.
To suspend the central shear walls which forms a cube over the ground floor, a special structure called the Vierendeel beam is introduced.
