Bibliotheca Alexandrina Book
Anniversary Publication

In 1989, a then-unknown collective won the international architectural competition to revive the ancient library in Alexandria, Egypt. Since then, Snøhetta has grown into a global architecture and design practice, while Egyptian society has experienced profound change, among others, with the Arab Spring in 2011. After its official opening in 2002, the library has become an academic powerhouse that impacts cultural and social life in Egypt and beyond with around one million annual visitors.

To celebrate Bibliotheca Alexandrina’s 20th anniversary, Snøhetta created a book that explores how the library came to have its impact by looking back at the past, reflecting on the present, and peeking into the future. It also tells the behind-the-scenes story of Snøhetta's first defining project through a wide selection of historical material ranging from unpublished sketches and pictures, a series of new images of daily life at the library, as well as several interviews and essays.

The book is made up of two parts. The first part includes sketches from Snøhetta's architects and artists and previously unseen photographs from the design and building process. This rare archive material is accompanied by several articles:

• An essay about the historical and symbolic value of the library by Gunnar Stålsett, theologian, politician and formerly on the Library of Alexandria’s Board of Trustees.
• An essay on the political and societal context from Odd Karsten Tveit, author and journalist covering the Middle East for Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation NRK for three decades.
• An article by the late Jacques Tocatilian, Director of the Office of Information Programs and Services at UNESCO.
• An in-depth interview with Snøhetta’s founders, Kjetil Trædal Thorsen and Craig Dykers, by Norwegian journalist Hilde Sandvik.
• An article about the art on the stone wall which was designed by artist Jorunn Sannes and sculptured by Kristian Blystad and local stonemasons. 

Part two includes a series of photographs taken over two days in November 2017 by British photographer Nigel Shafran, showing the daily life of the library and how it is used by locals and employees. The images tell the story from the point of view of the people the library was designed for, as a contrast to the typical architectural photography.

The book is printed on two different paper stocks using the most advanced printing technology. The thinner paper quality used in the book's first part underlines the content's rough documentary feel. The thicker paper in the second part is ideal for high-end photographic reproduction, and the higher grammage secures good opacity.

The matter is thread-sewn with a Swiss-bound open spine, which allows all spreads to open flat. The cover's gray color hints at the library's facade, and the debossed text suggests chiseled letters and symbols.

The book will be available for sale worldwide soon through snohetta.com, with preorders open now via emails to books@snohetta.com