These days, it seems barely an hour goes by without some ambitious architectural rendering or other landing in TOAD’s inbox. But forget the colourful sketches of malls and tower blocks, because this is the big one. Previously denoted only by a blank placeholder on the various scale models of the city’s proposed Saadiyat Island cultural district, designs for Zayed National Museum have finally been released to the world. Here’s what you need to know.
The architecture
Pretty striking, isn’t it? The five protruding fins of the building’s hull are modelled on the feathers of a falcon’s wing (not a plateful of moules mariniere, as TOAD first believed), and are specially designed with the conditions of the region in mind, channelling prevailing breezes throughout the complex to keep the need for artificial cooling to a minimum. Entry to the exhibition space comes via a cavernous lobby area, in turn accessed via a footbridge over a man-made moat.
The exhibits
Within that stylish shell, there will be seven galleries in total, each set to offer visitors a stunning array of multimedia artefacts relevant to the rich history of the UAE. While the main talking point is likely to be a space dedicated to the life and times of the late, great Sheikh Zayed himself, plans also include sections on falconry and conservation, land and water, people and heritage, history and society, science and learning, and, finally, faith and Islam. Best start making space in your brain now.
The facilities
Exhibition space aside, there’s plenty more planned for the 66,000sq m complex, both educational and not-so-educational. According to information provided along with the recent unveiling, Zayed National Museum will also include a café, book shop, conference rooms, a library and – this being Abu Dhabi – a fine dining restaurant. In other words, it’s set to be something of a cultural nirvana for the city’s bespectacled, cardigan-wearing types.
The schedule
With the foundations already laid, work has just begun on assembling the museum’s substructure, which is due for completion by the middle of next year. Construction of those iconic falcon feathers will then get under way in late 2011, and will take two years to complete, leaving a year to get things ready for the grand opening in 2014. We wouldn’t be at all surprised to see the museum open its doors on November 2 to coincide with the 10th anniversary of Sheikh Zayed’s death.
For more information on Zayed National Museum, visit www.zayednationalmuseum.ae
