According to this project, on the natural island of Saadiyat (which means "happiness" in Arabic), six urban areas of mixed development will be erected: there will be hotels, huge berths designed for 1000 ships, golf courses, residential buildings - and cultural institutions … Among them, the leading places will be occupied by museums: the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi (project by Frank Gehry), the Classical Museum (architect Jean Nouvel), and the Maritime Museum (architect Tadao Ando). A Performing Arts Center designed by Zaha Hadid will also appear next to them.
The American architectural studio SOM has developed a master plan for the "cultural quarter": in addition to the named institutions, there will also be a Biennale Park with 19 international pavilions built on the banks of the 1.5 km long canal. Among the architects of these smaller buildings are the American architects Greg Lynn and Asymptote, the Russians Yuri Avvakumov and Andrei Savin, the Englishman David Adjaye, Seung Hyo San from South Korea and others.
But this does not exhaust the ambitious plans of the UAE leadership: on an island with an area of 27 sq. km and located 500 m from the Abu Dhabi waterfront, by 2018, the Sheikh Zayed National Museum, dedicated to the history and culture of the country, will also be built, as well as - possibly - a branch of the British Museum and the largest museums in Austria, Russia and Italy. Also, in collaboration with Yale University, it is planned to establish an art institute there, which would train students in the field of visual arts, architecture, painting and theater.
The goal pursued by the authorities of the United Arab Emirates is to create a cultural center in Abu Dhabi that would unite around itself the creative potential of the Middle East and even the entire Arab world. At a time when the old centers - Beirut - "Paris of the East", Baghdad and even Cairo - are going through hard times, a new point of attraction for the creative forces of the Muslim world may be formed in the UAE. There it would be possible not only to transfer knowledge about traditional culture to the younger generation, but also to acquaint its representatives with Western civilization on the example of the best monuments of its art. At the outset, most of the new museums' expositions and the Performing Arts Center's program of performances will include exhibits from European and American collections and performances by touring troupes. But in the future, according to the authors of the project, their place should be partially taken by the works and productions of artists, actors and musicians trained in the UAE.
But such good intentions is only one side of the coin.
It is also a reality that Abu Dhabi, the capital and largest emirate of the country, is now experiencing fierce competition in the field of cultural tourism from other emirates - Dubai and Sharjah, as well as the capital of Qatar, Doha. There, too, museums and theaters are being built according to the projects of famous architects, who should attract wealthy art lovers from all over the world. And the financial interest in revenues from this area of the tourism business is not the last reason for the decision to implement a project on Saadiyat Island worth $ 27 billion and lasting 10 years. But while all these plans remain on paper, the projects of the "stars" of architecture are on display at the luxurious Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi.
Frank Gary has developed a project for the Guggenheim Museum Abu Dhabi, which is to become the largest museum of the Guggenheim Foundation in the world (exhibition area will be 12,000 square meters. M). Its center is formed by four floors of traditional halls grouped around a courtyard. There will be another ring of galleries around, more spacious and simpler in formal solution. The outer perimeter will be made up of several halls, more reminiscent of industrial premises, and intended for the exhibition of the largest and most unusual works of contemporary art.
The main formal motive should be cones with cut off tops, an imitation of the "wind tower" traditional for Arab architecture, which removes warm air from the room, replacing it with colder air. With their help, part of the complex will be naturally ventilated. They will also mark all entrances to the museum.
The Zaha Hadid Performing Arts Center will have to link the urban development axis of the “culture quarter” and the promenade line along the waterfront. Five auditoriums are located in its structure, "like fruits on a wriggling vine." Reaching a height of 62 m, the building gradually turns in a westerly direction, towards the water. The complex includes two concert halls, an opera and a drama theater, and a multifunctional hall for 6,300 people. It will also house the Academy of the Performing Arts. One of the concert halls will be located on the upper tier with access to sunlight, and through a huge window behind the stage, viewers will be able to admire the views of the city and the sea. Also, panoramic windows will be installed in the foyer of all five rooms.
Jean Nouvel was commissioned to design the Classical Museum. It is assumed that works from the Louvre collection will be exhibited there (however, this decision caused public discontent in France: many citizens believe that in this way France "sells its soul", using its cultural heritage for commercial purposes). The source of inspiration for the architect was the images of ancient cities abandoned by people, covered with sand or sunk to the bottom of the sea. As a result, a simple plan was created, reminiscent of the results of archaeological excavations: a cluster of one-story buildings around the main street. But this “micro-city” requires a special microclimate, which should create the impression of “another world”. Therefore, the complex will be covered with a huge transparent dome covered with ornaments. Around the buildings, a variety of plants will be planted, typical for different ecosystems: for a desert and an oasis, for a sea island and a reservoir.
The Tadao Ando Maritime Museum will be dedicated to the history of navigation in the Arab world, as well as to the nature of Abu Dhabi. The uniform streamlined shape of the museum building seems to be the result of the wind blowing over the coastal cliff. The building is located in the middle of a large "water courtyard", reflecting the theme of the museum. In the interior, various levels are connected by walkways and "floating decks". Traditional Arab dhow ships are fortified above the "gaps" between the individual floors. An underground lobby area with a huge aquarium is arranged.
