The Louvre Abu Dhabi, at The Heart of The «Soft Power» of the United Arab Emirates (1/2)

The Louvre Abu Dhabi is a universal art museum located on Saadiyat Island, the aptly named 'Island of Happiness', which aims to become the new cultural center of the UAE. With its temporary exhibitions co-organized with major French museums and its 'universal' discourse, the museum contributes to the soft power of the United Arab Emirates and to the redefinition of the Arab world's place in international art and heritage circuits.

The origins

The Louvre Abu Dhabi is the result of an intergovernmental agreement between France and the United Arab Emirates, which allows the latter to use the name "Louvre" until 2047.

The Museum, poetically nicknamed “The Louvre of the Sands”, tells the story of humanity through works from various civilizations, spanning a period from prehistory to contemporary art.

From the outset, the idea of branding the name of the world's largest museum had provoked an outcry in France. It took a lot of effort and no less than a billion euros to convince the most reluctant.

In return for this colossal sum, the contract provides for the use of the Louvre label for 30 years, as well as the loan of works from various French museums, alongside temporary exhibitions and cooperation in museum management and on-site staff training.

The Museum officially opened its doors to the public on November 11, 2017, after a decade of work, with approximately 600 works presented at the inauguration.

The design of the museum

The Louvre Abu Dhabi was designed by Jean Nouvel, the star architect of the last fifty years.

Nouvel used the serenity created by the interplay of shadows and light to create a welcoming space that integrates with the country's history and geography. A typical UAE Museum that would have no place in Paris, London or New York. He absolutely did not want a museum with purely European architecture installed in Abu Dhabi.

Inspired by the architecture and traditions of the Emirates, Nouvel created a remarkable setting for the Louvre Abu Dhabi that respects the essential technical constraints of modern museums.
To do this, he built a museum-city spanning approximately 24,000 m², including 8,000 m² of galleries, which seems to float on water. The different rooms of the museum are typical low white buildings of the region between which visitors can stroll.

Designed as an Arab medina, accessible both by sea and land, the Museum features spaces dedicated to a multitude of activities (kayaking, film screenings, conferences, etc.) in addition to art galleries.

The dome

An immense silver dome of steel and aluminum, a true architectural masterpiece, covers the various buildings. Despite its apparent lightness, the dome weighs approximately 7,500 tons (the same weight as the Eiffel Tower) and measures 180 meters in diameter.

Inspired by the characteristic cupola of Arab architecture, the dome is a complex geometric structure of 7,850 stars of different sizes, with the pattern repeating across eight superimposed layers. These patterns allow the sun to filter through their perforations and layering.
This is an ode to nature and the elements that echoes the palm trees of Abu Dhabi. Just like palm leaves in oases, the dome intercepts the dazzling sunlight, diffuses it, and scatters it to the ground, creating a "rain of light" that changes with the hours.

This steel giant is inspired by traditional Arab mashrabiyas and offers visitors a visual and thermal climate. Despite its imposing size, it seems to float on water because it rests on four invisible support points.

Natural air conditioning

The main technical challenge for the Louvre Abu Dhabi is the climate, as strict light and temperature conditions must be maintained for the conservation of priceless works. Beyond its beauty, the dome creates an environmental microclimate thanks to passive design techniques inspired by traditional regional architecture. The roof perforations allow natural lighting without excessive heat or airflow, and the floor and wall materials help retain cool air at all hours of the day.

The Museum also uses passive water and energy saving techniques, as well as advanced HVAC and lighting systems.

Next article: The Louvre Abu Dhabi, a bridge between civilizations