The
National Museum of Qatar re-tells the story of how Qatar
evolved through time, from a geological and biological perspective and from the
standpoint of human history. Over an area of 170,000 square feet, the
combination of traditional displays of items and multimedia makes a memorable
experience.
Renowned architect
Jean Nouvel is the mastermind behind this striking building. Apart from having
architectural aesthetic value, the disks have other functions, such as
protecting visitors against the scorching heat of the summer. By protruding
from the main body of the building, they work as veritable awnings and create
oddly shaped apertures that offer views of the surrounding area.
Another function of
the disks is that even if they look randomly placed, they are actually part of
an architectural strategy to support and reinforce the structure by
transferring the strain of its weight evenly to the foundations.
Taken as a whole,
the building draws an elliptical circuit around the historical palace of Sheikh
Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar during the first part of the
20th century.
The interior design
of the museum mirrors its striking exterior appearance, taking visitors along
pathways and exhibition rooms created by the interlocking disks. The walls are,
therefore, sloping in different directions and at different angles, with the
floor slightly rising and falling as if to follow the internal structure of a
desert rose. Masterful interior design made the most of this unconventional
space.
In addition to the
exhibition rooms, in the building are also a 220-seat auditorium, a research
center, laboratories, restaurants, cafes, and other shops. Around the museum is
a garden with fountains, and it is connected to the nearby corniche via two
pedestrian bridges.
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