The project for the National Museum was commissioned by Jean Nouvel back in 2002. At first, he conceived a modest-looking building, largely hidden underground, but in 2008 the customers wanted a more visible structure, and the architect proposed a second option, which was implemented. In plan, the building resembles a necklace, the pendant of which was the palace of the ruling al-Thani dynasty at the beginning of the 20th century: it has been restored and serves as the final point of the museum's tour route, 1.5 kilometers long.
The source of inspiration for Nouvel was the "desert rose" - a gypsum crystal that forms in the thickness of the sand after rain.
The building in Doha consists of similar fancifully connected disks: the smallest of them reaches 14 meters in diameter, the largest - 87 m. The gaps between them are covered with glazing, and the frames are recessed into the walls, floor and ceiling to do without visual "seams" … The steel frame of the discs is sheathed with panels of "ultra-high performance" glass fiber reinforced concrete of 2 m2 each, reminiscent of the color of sand or stone. The steel supporting structure of the building is hidden in the discs. In the interior, the walls are covered with stucco imitating stone, and the ceiling is covered with acoustic plaster over a layer of mineral wool.
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zooming 1/4 National Museum of Qatar Photo © Iwan Baan
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zooming 2/4 National Museum of Qatar Photo © Iwan Baan
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zooming 3/4 National Museum of Qatar Photo © Iwan Baan
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zooming 4/4 Arch. Jean Nouvel. National Museum of Qatar Photo © Iwan Baan
The total area of the building is 330 m long - 52,000 m2, of which 7,000 m2 are reserved for the permanent exhibition. The interiors and "museography" of these 11 enfilade rooms were also created by Jean Nouvel's bureau. 1,700 m2 dedicated to temporary exhibitions: the first was Rem Koolhaas's OMA / AMO “Making Doha”, which covers the period 1950–2030, from the first boom caused by the discovery of oil to major projects planned for the future.
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zooming 1/3 View of the temporary exhibition "The Creation of Doha". Curated by Rem Koolhaas and others © OMA
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zooming 2/3 View of the temporary exhibition "The Making of Doha". Curated by Rem Koolhaas and others © OMA
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zooming 3/3 View of the temporary exhibition "The Making of Doha". Curated by Rem Koolhaas and others © OMA
Exhibition spaces are looped around a vast courtyard, "barakh", as it is called in Qatar. It is adapted for holding various events, but also an audience for 213 spectators is suitable for these purposes. Other spaces include extensive lobbies, two restoration laboratories and administrative offices for 150 employees, two cafes and a panoramic restaurant, two shops, and special areas for VIP guests and school groups. Around the museum there is a park with an area of 11.5 hectares, which includes parking for 430 cars.
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zooming 1/3 Qatar National Museum Photo © Danica O. Kus
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zooming 2/3 Qatar National Museum Photo © Danica O. Kus
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zooming 3/3 Qatar National Museum Photo © Danica O. Kus
Cantilever lugs shade the façade, the spaces between the discs serve as "buffer zones", the climate system is up to the latest standards, and the building materials are local and / or local. The park is planted exclusively with drought-resistant native plant species. All together allows you to count on the "gold" LEED certificate.
