Renowned architectural firm Kéré Architecture has unveiled its design for the Biblioteca dos Saberes (The House of Wisdom), a massive 40,000-square-meter public library and cultural center that will serve as the cornerstone of Rio de Janeiro's Cidade Nova neighborhood revitalization project. Commissioned by Rio de Janeiro City Hall, this ambitious project marks the studio's first built work in South America and represents their second library design following the acclaimed Gando Primary School Library.

The most striking feature of the design is a vertical cylindrical volume that the architects describe as the "tree of knowledge," which serves as the central organizing element of the entire complex. This symbolic structure draws inspiration from native species found in Rio's Tijuca Forest while also referencing the communal function of trees in Francis Kéré's hometown of Gando, Burkina Faso. The central tower organizes the building's three levels, housing various facilities including reading rooms, library stacks, workshops, exhibition spaces, an auditorium, and a café, all arranged in a carefully planned gradient of activity levels.

The building's design extends beyond its central core, with the perimeter opening outward through a series of landscaped terraces, shaded courtyards, open-air circulation zones, and a distinctive canopied amphitheater. Francis Kéré, the Pritzker Prize-winning architect, explained the project's cultural significance, stating, "This library grows from the city's history and wisdom, from samba that moves the body to the poetry that moves the heart. It is a home for knowledge that belongs to everyone, a place where past and future meet beneath one roof, open to the city and to the sea that carries its stories to the world."

The Berlin-based team at Kéré Architecture has conceived the building as both climatic and social infrastructure, addressing Rio's challenging tropical environment. The design features a perforated facade that effectively mitigates the city's intense sun exposure, while rooftop gardens and the central tower work together to provide passive ventilation and cooling throughout the complex. Additionally, a pedestrian bridge will connect the library to a nearby monument honoring Zumbi dos Palmares, further integrating the project into the urban fabric.

Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes praised the project's cultural significance, noting, "From Little Africa to the world, Francis Kéré's project pays homage to the Atlantic, African, and portside formations that have shaped this plural Rio – a home for all Cariocas. A library of samba and of the people's wisdom, it consolidates Rio's legacy as the first Portuguese-speaking city ever named UNESCO World Book Capital – an honor that now becomes both a work and a symbol of our time."

The library's location carries deep historical and cultural significance, as it is rooted in the site of the former Praça Onze, which was home to Brazil's first samba school and sits just steps away from Oscar Niemeyer's famous Sambódromo. The Biblioteca dos Saberes deliberately draws from indigenous and Afro-Brazilian heritage, celebrating oral traditions and the vibrant social fabric of Carnival that defines Rio's cultural identity. The design also acknowledges the global history of the city, particularly recognizing the Atlantic Ocean as a historic conduit between Brazil and Africa, honoring the complex cultural exchanges that have shaped modern Rio de Janeiro.