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House of Wisdom

A human-centric learning hub celebrating Sharjah’s UNESCO World Book Capital title.

Client

Government of Sharjah

Project date

April 2019

In celebration of Sharjah being named UNESCO World Book Capital 2019, His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi unveiled the House of Wisdom. Located on Sharjah International Airport Road, just 10 km from the city centre, the facility was envisioned as a social hub for learning, supported by innovation and technology. It houses over 100,000 books and welcomes both the local community and international visitors.

The opportunity

The design intent was to create a harmonious, human-centric learning space. The two-storey building features a large floating roof that cantilevers on all sides over a transparent rectilinear volume, creating a sense of clarity and lightness. This architectural feature not only enhances the user experience but also reduces the environmental footprint by limiting the demand on mechanical and electrical systems for cooling.

What we did

Zutari was appointed to provide a comprehensive suite of engineering services, including:

  • Structural engineering

  • Mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems

  • Geotechnical engineering

  • Utilities and transport planning

  • Road infrastructure

  • Façade engineering

  • Building maintenance unit (BMU)

  • Vertical transportation

  • Security, audio/visual (AV), ICT, fire and life safety

  • Waste management and acoustics


To maintain the clean lines of the floating roof design, building services plantrooms were submerged and hidden from view, requiring close coordination with the architectural team and innovative cross-disciplinary solutions.
Designing the building services engineering systems for the House of Wisdom required innovative ideas developed across disciplines.

The outcome

The House of Wisdom is a landmark of cultural and architectural significance in Sharjah. It successfully integrates advanced engineering with thoughtful design to create a peaceful, functional and sustainable learning environment. The project reflects the emirate’s commitment to education, innovation and environmental responsibility.

The House of Wisdom stands as a symbol of Sharjah’s cultural leadership and forward-thinking urban development. Zutari’s multidisciplinary engineering expertise helped bring this visionary project to life, setting a new standard for learning spaces in the region.

“To realise the vision of lightness with the large cantilevering floating roof, the building services plant were hidden in submerged rooftop plantrooms.”

Matt Kennedy

Principal Mechanical Engineer

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