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Helen Betts | all galleries >> Saudi Arabia: Life in the Desert >> Riyadh Architecture > King Fahd National Library
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21-NOV-2015

King Fahd National Library

I am including a capture of what I called in several previous pictures the “sail” building, which is actually the King Fahd National Library and which designation by me was wrong because the rhomboid textile awnings were designed to resemble traditional Arab tents, a common motif in this country. It’s actually a more interesting building than I had imagined (as I have now done some reading on it), but what is visible from the street encloses the original library and dome, utilizing monument preservation principles. It is also described as one of the most important cultural buildings in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia http://www.archdaily.com/469088/king-fahad-national-library-gerber-architekten and looks to be very impressive inside as well. Now I really have to go back because “At night the façade glows with changing colors and becomes the city’s cultural lighthouse.”

Another couple of views of the library, posted earlier:

Nikon D810 ,Nikkor AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8G ED
1/320s f/10.0 at 31.0mm iso100 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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Zoltán Balogh05-Dec-2015 15:25
Fantastic compo Helen! V
Julie Oldfield01-Dec-2015 05:39
Wow! Love the shapes. Great shot. V
pkocinski30-Nov-2015 13:20
Can't wait for the night images...
Charlene Ambrose30-Nov-2015 04:18
Very interesting building with the tent design. You must go back for the night view! V
hamery30-Nov-2015 03:49
Stunning composition and the pattern of the library has given a beautiful dynamic mood to the image, Helen. BV+++
Nirvan Hope30-Nov-2015 03:02
That must have been something to build! I wonder if the tent design also helps to cool the building with specific airflow.
Gill Kopy30-Nov-2015 01:33
Love the effect created by the tent design - very cool V
John Hamers29-Nov-2015 22:29
Great capture of this fascinating architecture!!V
William Barletta29-Nov-2015 20:53
A very attractive and functional design ~V~
carabias29-Nov-2015 20:28
Very nice capture! V
Colin Storey29-Nov-2015 20:20
Fantastic looking building and image of it.
Martin Lamoon29-Nov-2015 19:29
Its huge!, look forward to seeing your night captures.
v
Jim Coffman29-Nov-2015 18:15
A most interesting place! Nice work,Helen!
Gerard Koehl29-Nov-2015 17:55
Ces façades sont magnifiques. V
larose forest photos29-Nov-2015 17:53
Interesting to see a library so ornately and beautifully designed and built with the culture of the land in mind. Libraries these days often get short shrift! A beautiful building. Hope you can capture some of the night time lights! V
bill friedlander29-Nov-2015 17:00
Fascinating patterns, amazing that the effect was achieved with the use of textiles. V
Ton, Ben & Rob Nagtegaal29-Nov-2015 16:49
Beautiful architecture, another great shot Helen.BV
Carol Rollins29-Nov-2015 16:39
That is so cool!
Marco Valk29-Nov-2015 16:38
Very nice shot of this intruiging architecture.
joseantonio29-Nov-2015 16:21
I would love to see some image of this at night.V