Sharjah plans to build the "House of Wisdom" after receiving the status of the World Book Capital.
Dubai, UAE. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Kassimi, ruler of Sharjah, unveiled plans for the construction of the House of Wisdom after the emirate received the status of the World Book Capital.
The project’s developer will be the Sharjah Investment and Development Office, and the library’s architects for 105 thousand books with discussion and reading rooms, as well as a cultural center, will be the world famous British architectural bureau Foster and Partners.
In a two-story complex, reading rooms will be located both indoors and in the garden. There will also appear restaurants and cafes, a children's educational center and separate rooms for women. The facade will be completely transparent, so visitors can enjoy reading in natural light. The opening is scheduled for 2020.
Sharjah also plans to erect a monument dedicated to conferring the title of World Book Capital of 2019 - Sharjah World Book Capital 2019 Monument. The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority will also be the project developer, and the British artist Jerry Judah, who created a 36.5-meter sculpture in the form of an ancient scroll, will act as the architect.
The sculpture will be made of 72 tons of steel, placed on a 240-ton concrete pedestal 4 meters wide. Shaped in the form of a torch, the monument will demonstrate Sharjah's efforts to promote reading, develop intellectual enlightenment, and support book publishing.
