Iconic design for the Louvre Museum, Abu Dhabi

30/01/2009

Inspiring exhibition spaces planned

Located on Saadiyat Island, off the coast of Abu Dhabi, the new Louvre will provide inspiring, high-quality exhibition spaces for stunning works of art from around the world, many on loan from the Louvre in Paris. International engineering consultancy Buro Happold (BH) is providing full core and specialist engineering services on this venture which is one of the most innovative, exciting and challenging museum projects to be built in recent times.

Designed by Pritzker Prize winning architect Jean Nouvel and an integrated team built on collaboration with BH engineers, the museum appears to float serenely in the inshore waters of the island. The BH team is enjoying the experience of working with such a creative force and the phrases “pluie de lumieres” (rain of light) and “eclats de soleil” (bursts of sunlight) have entered the design lexicon as the engineers and architects together have developed new techniques of form-finding and analysis to deliver this project. “Design without frontiers or preconception”, reflects Tim Page, BH project director.

The museum complex takes its inspiration from the layout of a traditional Arabian souk. Standing on piles founded in bedrock 20m below, its imposing form will be topped by a 185m diameter shade canopy supported on four perimeter pillars. The canopy design incorporates multi-layered and perforated external cladding which allows a rain of sunlight into the space below, creating localised areas of light and shade, with ambient temperatures in which visitors can enjoy the public space and explore external artwork exhibitions.

Most of the artworks however will be protected in strictly controlled indoor gallery conditions, alongside art conservation workshops, an education centre, and other public amenities.

“Working with AJN is an exercise in the pursuit of both elegance and functionality. Jean describes himself is a sculptor - and both physical and computer modelling have been key features of the design process. It has been fascinating and tremendous fun for the team so far!” says BH structural director Ken Jones.

The iconic ‘desert Louvre’ has to be designed to withstand Abu Dhabi’s extreme climate, which means aggressive airborne dust and sand, high salinity, humidity and the occasional sandstorm.

BH building services engineers and specialists are integrating low-profile but effective passive energy systems into the design to naturally enhance cooling of the buildings and optimise water use, in keeping with the practice’s long-standing commitment to planet-friendly sustainable design. The building will be designed under UAE sustainable guidelines in the spirit of the American LEED green building rating system.

As part of the Cultural District of Saadiyat Island, itself part of a 30 year development plan, the Louvre will be linked to the mainland by two new major bridges. It is also one of four landmark buildings planned for the district; the others are the Sheikh Zayed National Museum, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and a performing arts centre.

Sited on a built archipelago in the tidal zone of the Arabian Gulf, the Louvre Abu Dhabi will be uniquely placed to become a global cultural destination when it opens in 2013.