This library and conference centre acknowledges local architectural traditions in ways that significantly affect its form. The three-storey skylit central atrium, for example, reflects the formal organisation of Ottoman madrasas. It functions as a protected extension of the urban space; all the major activities of the building are grouped around it. The careful control of light emphasises the public quality of the central space and the more intimate character of the surrounding spaces. Modern building products are juxtaposed against traditional local materials. Aluminium window frames exist in harmony with wooden screens.