Simply Abu Dhabi III

The total brokered deal will see Abu Dhabi benefit from art loans, elite exhibitions and priceless management advice from France. This is without doubt a huge boon – one only has to think of the Mona Lisa aka La Joconde, the most famous painting in the world to realise that the support of the Louvre in Paris is going to prove absolutely invaluable to the success of this thrilling art gallery on Saadiyat Island. The Mona Lisa hangs in the Louvre in Paris as the museum’s leading attraction – the most celebrated, reproduced and romanticised piece of art. We can only guess at what illustrious masterpieces will appear in the new Louvre and can’t wait to spend an afternoon of sheer bliss wandering through the galleries for ourselves – a definite date for A&J’s diary! The Louvre Abu Dhabi will be 24,200m2 (260,000ft2) in stature covered by an umbrella-like roof. With 6,000m2 of galleries to be dedicated to permanent displays and another 2,000m2 for temporary exhibitions, each collection will be the result of considered expert research and the galleries will open their doors to the public in successive phases. An icon within the cultural district Designed by Pritzker prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel, this historic museum is scheduled to be the first internationally established icon within the cultural district. The eagerly awaited Louvre Abu Dhabi will be a real gem in the cultural district of Saadiyat Island and one that we literally can’t wait to explore for ourselves when it opens its doors – hopefully next year. The foundations were designed by UK based consulting engineers Buro Happold and apply an intricate piling system in order that they attain the intended 100 year design life and also to minimise the risk of water intrusion. Already widely considered as a marvellous feat of engineering, Jean Nouvel’s magnificent structure seems at first glance, to float and its web patterned dome allows sun to filter through and cast its rays over the exhibits which are planned to include art throughout the ages from all regions as well as an impressive selection of Islamic art. Jean Nouvel has said that he relied on; “the performance of light and shadow to create the feeling of discovering something”. What an understatement! Discovering ‘something’ – there is so much waiting to be discovered under the roof of this highly anticipated museum that is sure to pull in visitors from around the globe. The museum will cost €83m ($108m) to build and the gallery will be named after Sheik Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Over the next decade, it is expected that Abu Dhabi will spend approximately €400m developing its own collections of fine arts and works in archaeology. Primarily displaying classic artefacts, the Louvre will also showcase pieces from all historic eras, so there really will be something to appeal to all art lovers with thought- provoking exhibitions changing throughout the seasons. It is sure to become renowned as one of the world’s premier art galleries and we already know this is a place that we will want to visit time and time again. The Guggenheim As huge art lovers, one of the biggest attractions drawing us to Saadiyat Island is the promise of a transnational platform for global contemporary art and culture that will stage the most significant artistic achievements of our time. We’re referring of course to the greatly anticipated Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. The internationally acclaimed Guggenheim New York is one of the most significant architectural icons of the 20th Century. What a coup then that the magic is to be recreated in the heart of Saadiyat’s cultural district. Global in scope, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will act as a powerful platform for modern 21st century culture whilst also reflecting the importance of the cultural traditions of Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates with a strong focus on art from the Middle East. Designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will be located on the North Western tip of Saadiyat Island with spectacular views of the Arabian Gulf. Inspired, in part, by the Suleiman Mosque and Le Mont St. Michel, Gehry describes his composition for the building as “intentionally messy, moving into clarity”. The Guggenheim will stand at four stories tall with multiple galleries on top of each other. Gehry is an architectural genius and has created so much more than a building. Gehry’s concept is simple. His vision was to create something that would capture the imagination of every visitor. As he said himself; “I want the building to engage people emotionally” – when you look at it, he has certainly achieved this with an iconic structure that is a masterpiece all of its own. Gehry was enthused both by the location and the objective of the museum and wanted to push the boundaries to create a cultural institution that would attract people from all over the world. The site itself, set in a desert landscape close to water on all sides and with a beautiful light quality inspired him to create a piece of architecture that will set the standard for future projects. A truly wonderful piece of architecture to behold, before you even step through the door, you are being treated to a genuine work of art to feed the eyes and engage the soul. At 320,000 square feet (30,000 m2) this architectural tour de force will be the world’s largest Guggenheim museum and has been designed with capacity for approximately 130,000 square feet (12,000 m2) of exhibition space. THE LOUVRE A UNIVERSAL MUSEUM The first universal museum in the Arab world, planned to provide a stage for the artistic expressions of different civilizations and cultures, from the most ancient to the most contemporary, the Louvre in Abu Dhabi is currently under construction and will aim to follow in the huge, world-famous footsteps of its French counterpart. In Paris, the Louvre has held a prestigious place in the city since the late 12th century, undergoing successive architectural metamorphoses. Having secured an exciting deal with the Louvre in Paris to adopt the name, borrow beautiful works of art and stage special exhibitions, the Abu Dhabi Louvre is promising great things to visitors through its doors. 16 SIMPLY ABU DHABI