House of Wisdom: Sharjah's beacon of youthful innovation and community

Sunlight streams through soaring windows, illuminating pages and screens alike, and the gentle murmur of conversation blends with the clink of coffee cups. Here, at Sharjah’s House of Wisdom (HoW), students pore over textbooks, artists sketch in notebooks, and thinkers gaze out at lush gardens – not in isolation, but within a shared current of quiet energy.

Albert Einstein once said, “The only thing that you absolutely have to know, is the location of the library”, and was highlighting that you don’t need to have every fact, formula, or piece of information stored in your head; what truly matters is knowing where and how to find information when you need it.

For a growing wave of young people this holds true, and HoW has transcended its role far beyond a traditional library and has become an inspiring sanctuary for the attainment of knowledge and the spark of creativity; and ultimately a collective hub for the youth where community unfolds organically. But what makes HoW resonate so deeply with this demographic?

Within the library itself, a powerful sense of shared purpose fosters connection, and students discover solidarity through the quiet camaraderie of shared focus. A high school student who comes after classes to prepare for exams says the environment makes it easier to connect with others “We’re all going to study and we’re all kind of struggling,” the student laughs. “So, you know, we connect through the struggle and we all just encourage each other to study and do our best.” A university student who often spends hours in the library says the layout encourages interaction, “I feel like I can connect with someone and make friends... because the tables there are for you to share with other people,” she noted.

Youth consistently point to its very design as a stimulus, and the breathtaking, open architecture dissolves the pressure often felt in traditional spaces. A university art student who often sketches in the library shared, “The architecture is beautiful and it’s super open, which makes the whole place just feel inviting.” The integration of nature is equally conducive to its charm and as another visiting student stated, “It makes me feel more like I’m outside without really being outside... and I feel more calm and relaxed whenever I'm studying.”

A popular space within the aesthetic wonder of the building is the Frame Café,  which provides a comfortable space to work, meet, and exchange ideas. HoW also features a rotating specialty coffee vendor within the premises, providing patrons with fresh and diverse options periodically throughout the year. A university art student who often works there says, “The coffee shop usually boosts my mood and focus because the ambient sounds and activity create a low-pressure environment.” For a young writer, it’s also a place to collaborate. “I’ve found it really helps me generate new ideas, and it’s a great place to collaborate and work in teams too… also coffee. I love coffee,” they laugh.

Beyond these cherished spaces, HoW actively fuels the next generation of innovators and creators. The Al Jazri Fab Lab, named after the pioneering 12th-century engineer Ismail Al-Jazari, serves as a comprehensive makerspace where imagination meets cutting-edge tools. Here, young inventors and students experiment with 3D printers buzzing to life, laser cutters shaping new ideas, robotics kits building future solutions, and AI workstations unlocking digital frontiers.

Complementing this year-round innovation, HoW’s dedicated Youth Camps transform the space into immersive seasonal incubators. These holistic programs, like the current camp for ages 12+, blend traditional artistry with futuristic technology. Participants might expand their creative writing skills in “A journey of Imagination” workshop one day, then dive into coding and digital prototyping in the “AI Camp” the next. It’s a microcosm of HoW’s ethos: where heritage inspires innovation, and diverse skills converge to shape well-rounded, future-ready individuals.

This International Youth Day, House of Wisdom stands as a powerful testament to what happens when a space is designed with the youth firmly in its purpose. As a repository of knowledge, it's also a living ecosystem where architecture, nature, and thoughtful design converge to spark focus, fuel creativity, and foster genuine connections.