Bibliotheca Alexandrina
Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Library and cultural center in Alexandria, Egypt
The circular building spans 160 meters in diameter, rises 32 meters high, and extends 12 meters underground near Alexandria's ancient harbor.
The Bibliotheca Alexandrina opened in 2002 as a modern successor to the ancient Library of Alexandria, which was established 2300 years ago.
The library maintains collections in Arabic, English, and French, with specialized sections dedicated to arts, multimedia resources, and contemporary cultural exhibits.
The main reading room spans 20,000 square meters across eleven cascading levels, accommodating 2000 readers and housing up to 8 million books.
The exterior walls display 6000 square meters of hand-carved stone featuring inscriptions from global writing systems spanning 10,000 years of history.
Location: Alexandria
Inception: October 16, 2002
Architects: Snøhetta
Architectural style: expressionist architecture
Address: Al Azaritah WA Ash Shatebi 21526
Website: https://bibalex.org/en
GPS coordinates: 31.20889,29.90917
Latest update: May 28, 2025 18:10
Postmodern architecture emerged in the 1970s as a response to the rigid principles of modernism, reintroducing color, ornament, and historical references into contemporary building design. The movement evolved over decades, producing structures that challenge conventional forms and experiment with different materials and surfaces. These buildings demonstrate varied approaches to design, from playful facades to complex geometric constructions, showing how architects employ new technologies while engaging with historical stylistic elements. The collection includes cultural institutions such as the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and Casa da Música in Porto, public buildings like Seattle Central Library and Almere City Hall, and religious structures such as the Jubilee Church in Rome. Other examples include the SIS Building in London, Dancing House in Prague, and Niterói Contemporary Art Museum in Rio de Janeiro. The Louvre Pyramid in Paris and the Wexner Center for the Arts in Columbus show different interpretations of postmodern principles. The Piazza d'Italia in New Orleans with its colored colonnades and the Portland Building with its decorated facade represent early postmodern works in the United States.
Caesareum of Alexandria
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Alexandria National Museum
948 m
Graeco-Roman Museum
1.1 km
Shallalat Gardens
765 m
Ras Soda
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Shatby Necropolis
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Bibliotheca Alexandrina Planetarium
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Mausoleum of Abdullah ibn Ali Zayn al-Abidin
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Sadat Museum
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Sculpture of the sails in Alexandria
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Mausoleum of Yacoub bin Abd al-Rahman
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Societe Immobiliere Building
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Goethe-Institut Alexandria
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Adriana Pinto Building
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Consulate-General of Italy, Alexandria
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Luzzatto Building
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Shelter Art Space
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Villa Bassili
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Villa Benaki
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Alexandria Regional Center for Women's Health Building
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Villa Sinigallia
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Adda Building
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Toriel Building I
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Villa Averino
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Toriel Building II
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Paraskevas Building
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