Q Life Magazine Q Magazine December 2017 | Page 45
Creating a global hub for sport, art and culture |
| National Museum of Qatar exterior
Celebrating Qatar’s past,
present and future
The National Museum will celebrate
Qatar’s culture by preserving and
reconnecting visitors and residents
with the country’s traditions.
The museum is the physical
manifestation of Qatar’s proud
identity, connecting the country’s
history with its diverse and
cosmopolitan present.
Visitors can learn about Qatar’s
ancestors and the formation of early
cities, as well as the modernisation
of Qatari society.
Exhibitions will combine historic
objects and contemporary influences,
opening up a dialogue around the
impact of rapid change. Innovative
presentation techniques will excite
audiences and push boundaries.
A masterpiece of design
inspired by the ‘desert rose’
Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning
French architect Jean Nouvel, the
interlocking disc design was inspired
by the desert rose. It evokes the
life of the Qatari people between
the desert and the sea.
Seemingly growing organically
out of the ground, the museum’s
structure surrounds the Old Palace
of Sheikh Abdullah Bin Jassim
Al Thani. The Old Palace,
a former Royal Residence and seat
of government, was converted into
the original National Museum
of Qatar in 1975. It is one of most
recognisable landmarks in the
country and serves as a monument
to a historic way of life in Qatar.
of a cultural institution, fostering
a spirit of participation and providing
the conditions for discovery to thrive.
It sits at the heart of a public realm
that is taking shape around a key
civic quarter – one that connects it
with the Art Mill project and some
of Qatar’s most cherished cultural
institutions including MIA and QM
Gallery Al Riwaq.
Taken together, these reflect the
wider urban, civic and cultural
development of Doha.
The palace has a unique historical
significance for the country and
will be a fitting central exhibit within
the National Museum when it opens.
A space for everyone located
in a dynamic, civic quarter
The museum will be a thriving hub
for the public, students, and museum
professionals. It will redefine the role
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