Government Conference Hall Complex

A 6,825 m² conference complex for a national government institution in Libya, designed to host official conferences, summits and high-level diplomatic meetings.

The brief

A single building that can receive a 250-delegate conference, a state dinner and closed executive meetings, often on the same day, with the formality these events require and the discretion they depend on.

The concept

A falcon with its wings spread. In Libyan and Arab culture the falcon stands for strength, sovereignty and vigilance, the same values a building of this kind must express. Here it is not a logo applied to a facade; it is the organising idea of the plan and the massing.

The move

The main conference hall sits at the centre as the body of the falcon, rising to 13 metres. Two wings extend from it on either side and step down to 9 and then 7 metres: one for hospitality and dining, the other for meetings, administration and media. Each wing works on its own, yet stays tied to the centre.

Transparency as strength

Glass facades may seem unusual for a building of authority. We read them the other way: openness is confidence. The building does not hide behind blind walls. Only the main hall is closed, with a single low strip of glazing that lets delegates see the gardens without being seen.

The sequence

A set-back entrance creates a ceremonial forecourt where official motorcades arrive. From there a single axis leads through the reception hall and a full-height ceremonial gallery to the main hall, so every visitor is prepared for the scale of the room before reaching it.

The interiors

Dark walnut, brushed brass and warm marble set a calm, formal tone. Long glazed galleries look onto landscaped gardens, and the 250-seat hall is arranged in the manner of international assembly rooms, with simultaneous interpretation built in.