en.Wedoany.com Reported - Kéré Architecture has unveiled the design for the "House of Knowledge" in the Cidade Nova neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Spanning 40,000 square meters, this project is a public library and cultural complex. The design, completed by Francis Kéré, Mariona Maeso Deitg, and Juan Carlos Zapata, was commissioned by the Rio de Janeiro city government and is located near the historic Valongo Wharf and the "Little Africa" area. The design was officially presented to the community on November 20 (Brazil's Zumbi and Black Consciousness Day).

At the heart of the building is a cylindrical "Tree of Knowledge," inspired by native trees of the Tijuca Forest and drawing on the tradition of large trees serving as community gathering points in Gando, Burkina Faso. This vertical structure connects three levels, housing reading rooms, book stacks, workshops, exhibition spaces, an auditorium, and a café. The building's functional layout transitions from quiet to active spaces, encompassing reading, sharing, gathering, performance, creation, dining, and play. The scheme also includes a perforated facade for shading, a rooftop garden, landscaped terraces, shaded courtyards, open-air areas, a covered amphitheater, and a pedestrian bridge connecting the building to the nearby Zumbi dos Palmares monument.

The project aims to celebrate the cultural heritage of Indigenous and Afro-Brazilian peoples, oral traditions, and samba culture as a living form of knowledge. The design reimagines the Atlantic Ocean as a cultural and historical link connecting Brazil and Africa. It draws on the cultural legacy of the former "Praça Onze" (Eleventh Square)—the birthplace of Brazil's first samba school—and leverages its proximity to the Sambódromo. Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes stated that the project pays homage to the Atlantic, African, and port cultures that shaped the city, and reinforces Rio's status as the first Portuguese-speaking city designated a UNESCO World Book Capital.

Architect Francis Kéré described the project as a tribute to the city of Rio de Janeiro, stating that it grows from the city's history and wisdom, serving as a house of knowledge for all. Other recent cultural architecture developments include: the Natural History Museum designed by Mecanoo opening on Saadiyat Cultural District in Abu Dhabi, showcasing 13.8 billion years of scientific discovery; Snøhetta releasing new renderings of its winning design for the Düsseldorf Opera House; and the Qatar Foundation launching the "Lawh Wa Qalam" museum dedicated to Maqbool Fida Husain. Additionally, the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale has concluded, becoming the most visited edition in its history, and the 2025 World Architecture Festival has also closed in Miami.