Louvre Abu Dhabi by Jean Nouvel, will open in November

Description of project by Louvre Abu Dhabi

Pritzker-prize winning architect Jean Nouvel has sought inspiration for the concept of Louvre Abu Dhabi in traditional Arabic architectural culture. Applying a contextual approach to the site, the Louvre Abu Dhabi has been designed as a ‘museum city’ in the sea, with its contrasting series of 55 white buildings, including 23 galleries inspired by the medina and low-lying Arab settlements, a temporary exhibition space, a Children’s Museum, a 200-seater-auditorium, a restaurant, a café, and retail.

The 180 meter-wide dome covers the majority of the museum and becomes an iconic structure visible from the sea, the surrounding areas and Abu Dhabi city. The eight-layered dome is made up of four outer stainless steel layers and four inner layers separated by a steel structure five meters in height. The structure is made up of 85 super-sized elements, weighing on average 50 tonnes.
 
The dome’s complex pattern is the result of a highly studied geometric design, repeated at various sizes and angles in the eight superimposed layers. Each ray of light must penetrate the eight layers before appearing then disappearing, creating a cinematic effect as the sun’s path progresses throughout the day. Named the ‘rain of light’, this effect has been the subject of many models and mock ups over the years and is one of the defining features of the museum.
 
The dome is supported by only four permanent piers, each 110 meters apart and hidden within the museum buildings, giving the impression that the dome is floating. The interior dome elevation is 29 meters from ground floor level to the underside of the interior dome cladding. The highest point of the dome is 40 meters above sea level and 36 meters above ground floor level.
 
The museum design is a collaboration between traditional culture and modern construction techniques. Once open, the tranquil museum environment will encourage the museum visitor to enjoy the ever-changing relationship between the sun, dome, sea, buildings and land.

Environmental              
The dome will primarily act as a shading canopy to protect the outdoor plaza and the buildings below from the heat of the sun, providing local comfort and reducing building energy consumption. This strategy allows visitors to circulate outdoors between the Museum Galleries, Exhibitions, Children’s Museum, open plaza, café and restaurant.  
 
Interior Exhibition  Spaces            
The interior exhibition spaces, comprising the Museum Galleries, Exhibitions and Children’s Museum, make up 8,600 square meters. The Museum Galleries incorporate approximately 6,400 square meters and will showcase more than 600 artworks, of which 300 loans from the French partner museums at the opening of the museum. The collection will present a universal art history narrative that encompasses a wide range of cultures, traditions and époques.
 
The temporary exhibition space contains approximately 2,000 square meters dedicated to rotating exhibitions that will periodically provide a new subject or theme for the visitor to explore. The Children’s Museum completes the ensemble with approximately 200 square meters specially laid out for the Louvre Abu Dhabi’s youngest visitors, providing interactive exhibitions with real artworks specifically curated to be enjoyed by children and families.
 
Museum Galleries  
Louvre Abu Dhabi’s collection spans human history, emphasising exchange and shared human experience. The dialogue between artworks, manuscripts and objects in Louvre Abu Dhabi’s collection, from the most ancient to the most contemporary enables visitors to discover shared influences and intriguing connections between different cultures throughout history.

Children’s Museum
A Children’s Museum will be a dedicated space, presenting original works of art for families and children.  It will offer temporary exhibitions and workshops featuring Louvre Abu Dhabi’s permanent collection and loans from French partner institutions. As a gateway to the wider museum and collection, it will introduce children and families to the process of artistic creation, presenting various techniques and approaches, and promoting the opportunity for children to learn within an environment of curiosity and discovery.