Egypt’s new Science City International – an oasis of knowledge in the desert

The new Science City International in Egypt looks like a cluster of futuristic white dishes that form an oasis of knowledge in the desert. The complex, designed by Weston Williamson+Partners, who won the competition organized by Bibliotheca Alexandrina, will function as a modern science museum, learning and research facility.

The complex will be located on the western edge of Cairo called “6th of October City”. Nestled underneath a series of white dishes is a variety of interactive exhibitions, a museum, a planetarium, and observation tower, research and development facilities, workshops and a conference center.

The competition brief called for “a set of buildings and spaces that must be inspiring on the outside and motivating and exciting on the inside to visitors and employees alike.” Out of 446 contestants, including Zaha Hadid Architects who took third place, the panel of leading academics and science entrepreneurs has chosen the entry designed by Weston Williamson+Partners as the winner.

Chris Williamson, co-founder of WW+P said, “We are proud to have won. Needless to say that Egypt has a unique cultural heritage, but we were also attracted by the ambition of the project, clearly expressed through the brief. We look forward to developing the design and creating something worthy for Egypt’s future generations.”