Library in Rwanda - Valley of Knowledge

Politecnico di Milano, Polytechnic University of Milan, School of Design

Project idea

Libraries have evolved over the last two decades in a way that has been marked by a the embrace of digitalization. Libraries are now seen as social spaces that put people and their interactions first, rather than being spaces that hold books. Just as society adopts and adapts to the ever-changing technology, libraries, as public buildings also have a social responsibility to accommodate such revolutions. Transparency, information accessibility, and dynamic learning environments are prioritized in libraries of the twenty-first century, which supports all facets of societal development.

Within the African context, current libraries are often representative of post-colonial architecture, marked by structures that lack a nuanced understanding of the local social context. Our designs proposes a new resource , as an expression of cultural roots, of responsible innovation, of careful consideration of the physical and cultural landscape. By recognizing the significance of preserving cultural heritage and responding to societal needs, the envisioned library seeks to depart from generic designs, becoming a symbol of thoughtful, context-aware architecture in 21st-century Africa.

As a unique canvas ,the city of Kigali in Rwanda, having undergone substantial post-genocide rejuvenation in its urban development establishes the location of the library concept. Aptly named “the Valley of Knowledge,” the Kigali library stands on a site characterized by a hillside overlooking a view of a valley with seasonal rivers. The library aspires to become a repository of knowledge not only for the city but also for East Africa in general. This project heralds a new wave of African architecture, seamlessly integrating technological advances while honoring the city’s cultural heritage and urban development trajectory.

With an integral and sustainable vision, it represents a forward-looking approach that harmonizes innovation with cultural relevance and employs modern construction methods to shape the future of libraries in the urban landscape.

Project description

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 relationship of each program namely :
• Discuss (which hosts most of the lively functions such as cafes
bookshop, open workstations)
• Play (which hosts creative activities such as the imaginarium, digital hub)
• Study(hosting the reading departments)
• Research (which hosts the Rwandan Library forum as well as research labs for advanced learning) and is “Connected” by a central volume which links all the other program creating an architecture that looks fragmented on the outside yet compacted/connected from within.
The volumes also opens up to create segregated open spaces allows the building to connect with the outdoors on every level as one arises through the building. These open spaces also allow views to the valley and the filtering of the eastern sunlight which does not come with a lot of heat.

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.

The facade expresses an undeniable conversation between the interior and the outside world. Hence, there is the need for this public library to express with great precision the culture, materiality and technological advancements of Rwanda, Kigali.
“The art to build a shelter had origin from four walls”. which is very evident in Rwandan architecture and is expressed in the facade system of the library... a safe space, cave to seek knowledge. The structure expresses Massive, Materiality, closure, impenetrability opaqueness, cave and in our project the façade was selected to intentionally selected to build on this principle.
Due to the composition of form of the library, the façade becomes a literal skin that covers the building including the roof. This choice begins to express and amplifies the massiveness and the ground unity of the building as a massive block. The wrapped building skin leaves the internal façade in the stair zone with the exposed pigmented concrete as small reveal into the inner workings for the library.

Library is bounded by four imposing structural walls, serving as guardians of the library’s essence. By carving out elements to facilitate light and views into the library gives the façade depth, reveals the allure of recesses.
Within the structure are carved out hollow spaces to host private functions within the central space.
On the reading level, users recess into the inhabited walls as pods for intimate reading. The walls also hold the vertical circulation within the building hence freeing up the central space to give rise to a different atmosphere and useful architecture.

Technical information

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.

This Vierendeel beam composed of HEB 450 beams and columns are welded together to form a single unit of height 3m and span 30m which is anchored to the outer shear walls which in turn transfer any loads imposed on it directly into the foundation.
Horizontally the elements (slabs) are a composite material of 300mm precast hollow core slab and HEB 160mm secondary beams.

In our building design, we harnessed the stack effect to optimize natural ventilation and minimize reliance on mechanical ventilation systems. This technique involves strategically situating openings such as windows, vents, or air inlets at both lower and upper levels of the building to facilitate the upward movement of warm air and the downward movement of cooler air. By leveraging the stack effect, we promote continuous airflow, facilitating air exchange and enhancing indoor air quality without the need for extensive mechanical ventilation.
Upon initial assessment of the site, we encountered a significant amount of vegetation. After analyzing the prevailing wind directions and their impact on the site, we made the strategic decision to utilize the existing
vegetation coverage as natural windbreaks. These vegetative barriers serve as the primary line of defense against adverse weather conditions, aiming to safeguard the thermal comfort of our building from unnecessary disruptions.

Cross ventilation was incorporated into our building design to enhance airflow within the space, leveraging the pressure differentials between the indoor and outdoor environments. This approach entails strategically placing openings on opposite sides of the building to enable the influx of fresh air and the expulsion of stale air, effectively promoting the exchange of indoor and outdoor air.