In the shape of a solar disk, Alexandria's new library was built on the site of its prestigious predecessor and is set to shine once more in the Mediterranean world. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, it seems to emerge from the water. The side facing the sea is a sloping, entirely glass-paned façade; the granite side looking towards the town is covered with all the alphabets of the world, in a nod to the universalism of this new temple of knowledge. As well as a huge reading room spanning seven levels, it houses several museums, a planetarium, conference centre and research centre.