SHARJAH.- The installation of a landmark sculpture has taken place in Sharjah marking the start of a year of celebrations as the Emirate becomes the UNESCO World Book Capital 2019.

Gerry Judah’s monument, titled The Scroll, stands close to Sharjah University City and Sharjah International Airport, at the front of the House of Wisdom, designed by Foster + Partners to be completed in 2020.

The monument was commissioned by the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority, Shurooq, engineered by Diales, and built by Rimond.

The Scroll is a contemporary interpretation of the ancient Arabic scrolls - a single, spiralling sculpture that loops towards the sky. The design and inspiration are representative of a celebration of reading and the power of books to unite people, central to the purpose of the House of Wisdom and that of the UNESCO World Book Capital initiative.

'I am delighted to have been commissioned to create The Scroll as a monument to stand in front of Sharjah’s new House of Wisdom. The work is inspired by the early form of written word and represents the long-lasting power and significance of books and reading to culture and heritage.’ - Gerry Judah, artist

The Scroll stands at thirty six metres high (120 feet) and is a true spiral with no connection between the loops as they pass each other. At points there is no more than 150mm (six inches) between the loops. The sculpture is made of 72 tonnes of steel, with 240 tonnes of concrete foundations underneath the 4 metre wide plinth. The structure itself is extremely light and extremely stiff, so as to counterbalance the desert winds, and was achieved by a technique of monocoque construction developed by Gerry Judah and his engineers Diales.

Using a form of geometry called ‘developable surface’, the curved shell was created from rolled steel plates, cut by lasers guided by computer control, welded together and painted with multiple layers to protect the steel from sandstorms and weather erosion. The minimalist lines of the House of Wisdom, designed by Foster + Partners, contrast perfectly with the luxurious lines of the monument.

“Gerry’s sculpture is a perfect complement to the minimalist geometry of our building. We look forward to the building’s completion, which will give the local communities and scholars a new space for shared learning and innovative research, set within a beautiful landscape,” - Gerard Eveden, Head of Studio, Foster + Partners

“Gerry challenged our engineering & fabrication teams to re-think the whole process of a monocoque structure fabrication. From the complex unique double curvature plate rolling for the 98 plates that compose the 18 different sections of the monument to the challenging knife sharp edge that spirals in a continuous line from the bottom to the top. Only a precise fabrication, fitting and welding allowed us to achieve the final result and have a continuous and seamless surface.” - Miguel Gama, Project Director, Rimond

The UNESCO World Book Capital status is conferred on a new recipient each year, starting on World Book Day on the 23rd April. The Emirate of Sharjah was selected for its innovative, comprehensive and inclusive application. The city’s objective is to foster a culture of reading in the United Arab Emirates and inspire new initiatives to meet the challenge of literary creation in the area.

Sharjah hosts the annual Sharjah International Book Fair each November, and recently launched the Sharjah Publishing City, a space entirely dedicated to publishing and printing and the new home of the Sharjah Book Authority.