La Biblioteca Universale di Pace

Creating a new space in Piazza Celimontana in Rome, La Biblioteca Universale di Pace is a large, centrally-planned library and cultural center. Designed as a center for peace and religious studies for seven different world religions (Paganism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Taoism/Confucianism, Christianity, and Islam), La Biblioteca is manifested as the result of heptagonal sacred geometry and sun radiation diagrams that gave rise to its characteristic whirlpool-like courtyard. Clad in mirrored, smoked glass and terminating in a modern nymphaeum, the courtyard’s opening to the sky allows for sunlight to reflect its rays from the water on the glass creating a sublime space. On the exterior, seven chapel boxes are rotated around the main library stack spaces proving more intimate study and worship spaces for these diverse religions.