House of Wisdom
A library and cultural centre by Foster and Partners with a vast cantilevered roof over a glass reading floor.
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The House of Wisdom opened in 2020, built for Sharjah's year as UNESCO World Book Capital, and its form is one large gesture: a flat roof projecting fifteen metres beyond the glass walls on every side, shading a single open floor of reading space. Aluminium screens filter the light. Inside are around a hundred and five thousand books, study rooms, a fabrication lab and a cafe, and Gerry Judah's sculpture Scroll stands outside as a twisted white ribbon.
What you actually see
- The cantilevered roof - a flat roof reaching fifteen metres past the glass on all sides.
- The open reading floor - a single uninterrupted floor under the shading canopy.
- Scroll - Gerry Judah's white sculpture standing outside the entrance.
- The maker spaces - the fabrication lab and study rooms within the library.
When to go
October to April for the outdoor spaces; the library is air conditioned all year. It closes late in the evening. Fridays and public holidays have shorter hours.
Honest expectations
It is a working library and quiet is expected, which limits what visitors do. Most of the collection is in Arabic and English but the browsing appeal is limited to readers. There is little to occupy children.
Nearby
Sharjah Safari is east, and Sharjah Central Souk is west.
What to pack for House of Wisdom
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
