Alexandria Library

[onlymark]

So, in the third century BC a great collection of the writings of the time was conceived and the library opened by either Ptolemy or his son, no one really knows. Suffice to say it was the greatest collection of its time and was added to by Mark Anthony as a wedding gift to Cleopatra.
I'd have given her a toaster, but they didn't have electric then I suppose.

Over the next couple of centuries Alexandria became a centre of learning until Caesar in 48BC decided it was a good tactic to set fire to his own ships in the harbour. The resultant firestorm destroyed the library.
Or did it?

Apparently there were a couple of other libraries around the city and there are confusing accounts of when and how it disappeared.
Some believe that the most likely scenario was the destruction that accompanied the wars between Zenobia of Palmyra and the Roman Emperor Aurelian, in the second half of the third century.

But anyway -
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_of_Alexandria

In 1974 a plot of land was secured to re-build it and after much discussion and comings and goings a new one was finally opened in 2002.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibliotheca_Alexandrina

Library website -
www.bibalex.org/English/index.aspx

It was designed to mimic the rising sun and the front wall made of granite from Aswan is carved with characters from 120 different human scripts.
These are photos taken by myself last weekend, most are obvious, if any aren't then let me know, rather than explain every one in detail -


Outside -














Inside -










Inside there are many exhibitions, many rooms and displays, old printing machines, all sorts of stuff too numerous to mention.
And books.
It's worth spending the best part of a day there just exploring.

[bixaorellana]

I'm boggled! This is really something, Mark. Thanks for that last link with the aerial view of the library -- I needed that in order to try to take all of this in.

Is the design of the ceiling/wall to scoop light in without having glare? Also, I don't quite get the pavement next to the wall. Is that a sidewalk, and if so, what are the channels in it? Where does the overhead walkway begin?

Looking at your picture from above down onto the main floor, I thought there weren't many books. Then I read on the website that there are 500,000 just of the books in French!

The whole thing is vast -- it contains a planetarium! Is it very echo-y inside, or were the acoustics well designed. Your kids must love the place. What a cool concept to pull kids in gently with interesting stuff so that they can give rein to their natural curiosity. I love the really big book in the last photo.

You really got some great pictures, exploiting all those wonderful angles. I am definitely coming back to this thread -- there's so much to take in. Thank you!

[fumobici]

My father was in the library a couple of months back and made note of the lack of books. He was told that they received far fewer book donations from other libraries than they had hoped. It did however have lots of terminals for accessing the internet- today's Library of Alexandria (or perhaps Tower of Babel).

[onlymark]

There are definitely more books than the photos give the impression of, however there are still relatively few on display. I don't know where the rest are.

[onlymark]

Apr 7, 2010 0:50:17 GMT bixaorellana said:

Is the design of the ceiling/wall to scoop light in without having glare? Also, I don't quite get the pavement next to the wall. Is that a sidewalk, and if so, what are the channels in it? Where does the overhead walkway begin?

Is it very echo-y inside, or were the acoustics well designed.

Inside the sound is quite mutes, it's not echo-y particularly. Obviously some thought has gone in to it. The lighting/window idea is to get the most in without focussing it anywhere and 'bathe' the whole levels in as much natural light as possible. The coloured window panels are probably just for decoration.
The pavement next to the wall? The wall with the writing/carving on it?
There isn't a pavement there. Is there?

The walkway begins down the side and continues to the front. Neither end go anywhere, the access to it is about a third of the way along and it is just a viewing platform. In typical Egyptian fashion you can't get anywhere from it other than to the cafe situated at the side of the library building. It was supposed to extend across the road, but hasn't.

[bixaorellana]

Thanks, Mark. It really is an exciting building.

I think what confused me about the wall and "pavement" is that the pictures are taken looking down on some kind of roof or overhang, aren't they? Instead of perceiving it as something raised from the ground, I saw it as something flush to the base of the wall. Your photos are great -- it's just the way I was looking at them.

[onlymark]

Harbour at dusk -

[bjd]

Do there seem to be people in there using the library, or was it mostly full of people just looking at it?

[onlymark]

Plenty of people seriously using it, yes. In fact they looked a bit peeved whenever a tourist type came near.

[onlymark]

West of Alexandria, in fact 21km west, is the junction of the roads to the south to Cairo, west through Egypt to north Africa and east back through Alexandria, across the Sinai to the middle east.
At this point, actually rather nondescript, is a tower of which I can find little about other than the following -
The Andalus Tower was constructed in 1999 as part of the revival campaign of Alexandria. It is located at Km-21 along the North Coast Road which connects Alexandria to Matrouh. The tower is approximately 18 m tall and is of Andalusian/North African style. It is located at the crossroads of Cairo, Alexandria, and the North Coast which connects Egypt with North Africa.

It seems to be lit from the inside at night and is quite attractive (if you ignore all the traffic around it)

[bjd]

It doesn't look in very good condition for something built in 1999!

[Deleted]

The last time I was in Alexandria (I hope you've seen my report, Mark -- and everybody else), the library was just a vague project. I think it is fantastic that it finally was built, even if the contents are not yet as fantastic as one would hope.

Alexandria is a magnificent city which has been declining for too long, even as the population grows. I hope that things like this will help to reverse the trend.

[onlymark]

bjd, it's due to it being at a major road junction and subject to the pollution, plus not only do building techniques leave something to be desired but maintenance is none existent.

Kerouac, I'm sure I must have read your report. Absolutely certain. Without a doubt.

About Alexandria you say?

[onlymark]

Yep, just found it again.
I don't think it's changed at all.

[bixaorellana]

You say the tower is lit from the inside at night. Those are stained glass windows on it, correct?

Can people go up in it, or could they at one time? It's so odd to see that after the gleaming modernity and vision of the library.

[onlymark]

Go up it? I suppose if you could find someone with a key and slip him a bit of money, but it's not open to the public. And yes, there are some coloured glass windows on all sides.

[Jazz]

The design of this library is perfect. I have always been interested in libraries of the ancient world and the architects have certainly honoured a revered traditon both with the design and its vast offerings. The detailed shots of the wall are wonderful with the world scripts. Your roof photos are great, especially with the men working, to show indicate scale. Somehow this makes me think of the windows in the Arab Institute in Paris, designed by Jean Nouvel. He had, I think, similar ideas of working with the light. I would want to visit many times. I love that it's so close to the water.

[onlymark]

Everything is better when it's close to the water.

Except probably mine shafts and nuclear bunkers.