National Library and Documentation Centre

Shiraz, Iran

The functional structure of the library, constructed mainly in concrete and glass, comprises two main parts: the reading rooms and the closed book storage building. The solid mass of the book storage represents the collections of the past its façade is patterned in bronze with inscriptions from the oldest Elamite text. The reading rooms are conceived as vessels of ever-changing and evolving thoughts, and designed as a crystalline transparent element, with the reading room rotated towards the Hafez mausoleum. The library is located in the Nassaji gardens and the opportunity was taken for its restoration according to classic Persian char bagh principles.

Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture