In an effort to expand education in one of Africa’s least developed countries, the Miracle for Africa Foundation has approved the master plans for a library at the heart of the new campus in Malawi. Steven Holl Architects, based out of New York City and Beijing, will design the 66,000-square-foot open plan library.
Courtesy Steven Holl Architects
Designed to enable the most efficient movement of air and to accept the most daylight into the space, the prefabricated roof structures will be curved upwards. The light-colored roof will be designed to collect solar energy while also reflecting heat off the building. The exterior will be comprised of crafted bamboo, allowing air to easily circulate through the interior. There will be a pool for collecting rainwater at the center of the library, adjacent to the circulation desk.
The firm hopes that the new library will be a significant moment in Malawi’s architectural history, which has been excluded from modern innovation.
For more information about Malawi’s New Library, visit ARCHITECT’s Project Gallery.