Save The Date – #LouvreAbuDhabi

It is said to be born out of an argument between the governments of France and Abu Dhabi and will display arts, manuscripts and objects that will hold historical, cultural and social significance in the world. Straddling over eras, the items displayed in the museum will originate from societies and cultures reflecting from all around the world as well as universal themes illustrating geography, nationality and history.

OVERVIEW OF LOUVRE ABU DHABI

The ultimate aim of the museum is to allow all its visitors to discover how art developed in different cultures and civilizations all around the world.

Museums have been traditionally designed to display objects and art works that belongs to a civilization that is quite artistic in terms of history and art movements. It gives us a taste of what a particular culture may have been with interesting trends and stories.

But, Louvre Abu Dhabi is different. It’s going to be a museographic approach – displaying art and objects chronologically. This will give visitors a chance to explore connections between civilizations and culture around the world. This is what will make the museum truly universal.

The universal approach fits perfectly to the image of Abu Dhabi, reflecting the city’s position as an important crossroad of the East, West, North and South as well its ancient role in the Silk Route that linked the continent of Europe and the Indian Ocean that opened gates between Asia and Africa. Louvre Abu Dhabi is an ideal place where all the diversity of the world can meet and exchange ideas and cultures.

The best part about Louvre Abu Dhabi is that its developing its national collection that will be enriched with the history of humankind since the beginning of time.

Inspired by an Arabian engineering, Louvre Abu Dhabi will be having a falaj-inspired water running system throughout the museum. The dome’s interface is inspired by the interlaced palm leaves that were traditionally used as a roofing material and results in an enhancing rain of light. The dome of the museum is said to be floating because the four pillars are hidden within the museum.

THINGS YOU MIGHT WANT TO KNOW ABOUT LOUVRE ABU DHABI:

• Nominated in the Times of London top ten buildings to get excited about in 2017.
• It is located in the famous Saadiyat Cultural District along the Manarat Al Saadiyat.
• The building is a contemporary design that combines key elements within the Islamic and Arabic architecture.
• The gallery of the museum will include ancient and contemporary world artworks from different eras and civilizations.
• 2007 was the year when Louvre Abu Dhabi, the first Louvre outside Paris was initiated.
• 2009 – when the ground ceremony of the museum took place.
• The area of the museum is said to be 97,000 sqmt on the Saadiyat Island.
• The total area of the indoor exhibition is approximately 8,600 sqmt.
• Along with Louvre Abu Dhabi, The Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim are the 3 main museums that will form the Museum city on the Saadiyat island.
• Within Louvre Abu Dhabi; 23 permanent galleries and 55 Arab-style buildings are said to be built.
• 600 art works including 300 that have been loaned from various French Museums.
• The entire project is said to cost €1 billion that includes €400 million only to carry the name “Louvre”. This name will be carried by Abu Dhabi for the next 30 years and six months.

A QUICK STORY TO BE UNFOLD

Louvre Abu Dhabi will have museum galleries that will tell stories of human race in 12 inspiring chapters each of which will focus on shared themes and ideas that reveal connections throughout humanity.

The museum will hold four temporary exhibitions every year, as a part of the unique exhibition between Abu Dhabi and France.

WHO IS BEHIND LOUVRE ABU DHABI?

Jean Nouvel – The man who is the recipient of the Pritzker Prize and the master mind behind Louvre Abu Dhabi has beautifully set the Middle East’s most visited museum in an iconic design that is both on the land and sea reflecting harmony and calmness.

Architecture is an art, and you need to have motivation to assemble something which would be a gift of a lifetime, that will stay here not for years but centuries, said Nouvel. The museum took him 10 years to be completed and is become a part of himself and his heart. A museum like Louvre holds high significance to Abu Dhabi. It’s a symbolic part of the cultural district and is going to be a destination in itself.

TIMELINE OF LOUVRE ABU DHABI

• 6^th March 2007: UAE and France sign a deal to build Louvre.
• 10^th October 2007: The French National Embassy approved the project.
• 26^th May 2009: Construction begun.
• 3^rd August 2010: Piling completed.
• 29^th October 2011: Delay in project completion.
• 25^th January 2012: New deadline for completing was set as 2015.
• 8^th January 2013: Main construction contract given to a joint venture.
• 5^th December 2013: The first element of the museum’s canopy was lifted into its place.
• 17^th March 2014: First permanent gallery structure was completed.
• 22^nd October 2014: Museum’s dome gets completed.
• 15^th June 2016: Temporary sea protection walls removed.
• 3^rd December 2016: French president François reviews work progress.
• 6^th September 2017: Museum inauguration.

GOOD NEWS

Louvre Abu Dhabi is all set to open to the public on 11^th November 2017 and will be fully operational with 700 exhibits on display out of which approximately half of them will belong to the museum’s permanent collection while the rest will consist of loans from 13 of the famous and major French cultural inspirations.

Ticket rates: Dh 60 for general admission.

Dh 30 (13-22 years) and UAE education professionals.

Free entry: Members of museum loyalty programs, children under 13 years and ICOM or ICOMOS members, as well as journalists.

Visiting the “Louvre Abu Dhabi” will be a broad experience. Visitors will discover and enjoy the incredibility of the building and will also encounter masterpieces that belong from all historical period from all over the world.