SimplyAbuDhabi XXXIII

4 4 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I S himmering ethereally between the water and sky at the heart of the Saadiyat Cultural District lies the first truly universal museum in the Arab world: Louvre Abu Dhabi. This extraordinary cultural institution was launched as a way to bring different cultures together with one guiding vision: to shine a fresh light on the shared stories of humanity. A pioneering cultural collaboration between France and United Arab Emirates, Louvre Abu Dhabi first opened its doors in 2017, welcoming and connecting people from all over the world after a decade of preparations. Presented across 6,400 square metres of galleries, spanning 55 buildings, the site is laid out in the style of a traditional Arabian medina and houses a phenomenal display of art from both the Western and Arabic worlds. More than one million visitors to date have explored the fascinating interior and exterior spaces that make the Louvre Abu Dhabi a cultural destination like no other. Design and Architecture Any discussion of the art collected within Louvre Abu Dhabi must begin with the remarkable architectural space that houses it. Just as the museum bridges the gap between western and Arabic culture, the incredible space designed by acclaimed architect Jean Nouvel bridges land and sea, tradition and modernity, serenity and sociability. Jean Nouvel—one of the most significant architects of the last half-century—was inspired by the architecture and traditions of the United Arab Emirates to envision the Louvre Abu Dhabi as a sort of museum-city, evoking the cool maze of a medina floating on water. The centrepiece of this extraordinary architectural feat is a silvery, seemingly weightless dome that shimmers above the entire site. (In fact, the dome weighs the same as the Eiffel Tower— about 7,500 tonnes.) This complex, geometric structure, too, draws its inspiration from a distinctive feature of Arabic architecture—the cupola. It is composed of nearly 8,000 perforated stars that allow sunlight to filter through the dome, dappling the interior spaces with an ever-changing light show as the sun traces its path across the sky. Beyond being beautiful, the dome of Louvre Abu Dhabi also serves a number of environmental purposes. Its shade protects the outdoor plaza and the buildings below from the heat of the sun, allowing a comfortable experience for visitors to wander between the galleries, exhibitions, Children’s Museum, auditorium, open plaza and café and restaurant. In addition, the shade reduces the energy consumption of each of the covered buildings, while the stone floors and cladding benefit from night-time cooling in a further integration of natural elements. Nouvel has termed this effect “the rain of light”, a phrase that perfectly captures the cool and refreshing atmosphere it creates within the gallery spaces. Fittingly, this also brings to mind another essential signature of Abu Dhabi—the palm tree— which filters and softens the bright sunlight that peeks though the fronds, as well as the starry skies that would guide the nomadic people of the region. Not only is Nouvel’s creation an ode to nature and the elements, it’s a powerful symbol of the UAE’s vision and achievements. An archipelago out at sea, Louvre Abu Dhabi is