A Critical Approach

The dominant image of the Library is the elegant slanted disc. The symbolism of the rising sun is an apt choice. The sun disc has many echoes in Ancient Egyptian mythology. The rising sun is apposite for the emergence of a new beacon of learning. The unique roof structure is also reminiscent of the contemporary computer…

Architecture speaks at many levels, and a building should be viewed and discussed at these different levels. Thus a thoughtful critique of the architecture of the new Bibliotheca Alexandrina building would function at multiple levels.

The building as a building: The simplest, most direct appreciation of the building’s functional response and aesthetic qualities. Volume, space, light, materials, and colors, the entire lexicon of studied architectural criticism is brought to bear on the building, taking it apart and putting it together again both in physical and experiential terms.

The building in its physical context: Harmony or discord, intentional or unintentional, can be either positive or negative. The building’s relation to the environment, both natural and man-made, can enhance or diminish the stature of the achievement.

The building in its cultural context: Its “fit” and appropriateness in the context of a cultural heritage expressed through a legacy of already-built forms produced throughout the society’s history.

The building in its international context: Positioning of the creative act as a part of the international network of currents, styles, schools, and ideas, as well as the extent to which it contributes to the evolution of that debate, by either reinforcement or by innovation.

The building in its own local/regional intellectual milieu: To what extent does it make a statement on the immediate level of the debate that presses upon the intelligentsia of the region? This is no mere reflection of the international context, although it could be. The local/regional intellectual milieu is much more concerned with issues that are geographically circumscribed, even though they may have universal overtones.

Applying this type of criticism to this exceptional building is certainly instructive. It enriches our perception of the artistry embedded in it. Proper criticism is a prism. It allows the viewer to suddenly be made aware of the many colors of the spectrum that are embedded in the brilliant shaft of white light that is the work of art. It teases out the hidden dimensions, thus revealing to the viewer and user a richer experience, whether they accept or reject the critic’s views.