An exciting new art hub, located on Lusail’s Al Maha Island, is set to open in Qatar in 2029. Lusail Museum will house the largest collection of Orientalist paintings and photography in the world – here’s what to look forward to.
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An exciting new art hub, located on Lusail’s Al Maha Island, is set to open in Qatar in 2029. Lusail Museum will house the largest collection of Orientalist paintings and photography in the world – here’s what to look forward to.
Designed by acclaimed Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron, Lusail Museum will display an extraordinary collection of art that explores the movement of people and ideas across the globe and over the centuries. Its striking circular design will become a prominent feature on the southern tip of Al Maha Island.
The Lusail Museum is poised to redefine your museum experience. It will serve as dynamic hub for exchanging ideas around movement, encounters, exchange and identity. The design will encapsulate the vibrancy and diversity of traditional Middle Eastern marketplaces within its structure.
The building will span 11,000 square metres.
30 metres tall, spread over five levels.
Construction is expected to be completed in 2029.
The design of the Lusail Museum mirrors a vertically layered souk or a miniature city encapsulated within a single architectural marvel. Every corner of the museum will refer to the signature Qatari style by closely collaborating with local artisans.
The soul of Qatar meets sustainable design
The museum’s design places a strong focus on environmental sustainability, using local materials to minimise its ecological footprint and incorporating green spaces, solar panels and water management systems to offset CO2 emissions. The design features three intersecting spheres forming two distinct parts: one resembling a full moon and the other a crescent moon. A crescent-shaped internal street will connect museum entrances to the central lobby and other public areas such as a library, auditorium, shop, café and prayer space.
Sheikh Jassim’s legacy lives on
The museum’s Lusail location was chosen for its historical significance, as it’s near the site where the founder of modern Qatar, Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani resided in the late 1800s. He lived during a period when the Western world was captivated by the Arab and Indian Ocean worlds. In founding the State of Qatar, Sheikh Jassim defended his people’s cultural independence from the Ottomans and the British. As a result of his enduring legacy, Qatar is thriving as a cosmopolitan and influential hub with a strong identity.
An important forum for contemporary Arab identity
A unique museum feature in the region, the Lusail Museum Think Tank will create a space for discussions on global issues. It will host local and international thought leaders, artists, curators, academics, and students in a series of fellowship programmes and workshops to address questions of contemporary Arab identity. These outputs will shape the museum’s activities, exhibitions and programming, creating an ever-evolving forum and dynamic experience for visitors and participants within the museum’s physical and digital spaces.
Replicas from four corners of the Islamic world
The highlight of the art space, the museum will feature four anchor spaces on the top gallery floor. These replicas from important historical buildings include Murat III's bedroom pavilion dome from the Palace of Topkapi (1579) in Istanbul, the Jameh Mosque dome in Natanz (1320), the Ablution fountain from Ibn Tulun Mosque courtyard in Cairo (1296), and the Aljafaria dome in Saragossa (1050).
A taste of the exhibitions to come
During the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, the Lusail Museum presented four collections:
Discover more about the design plan for the Lusail Museum – a magnificent celebration of Qatar’s heritage and visionary spirit.
Often called Qatar’s ‘smart city of the future’, Lusail, is located north of Doha. It is known for its gorgeous Marina Promenade, magical Lusail Boulevard, landmark architecture like Katara Towers and sustainable design practices.
This vibrant manmade island is known as a high-end dining destination and also hosts popular entertainment like Lusail Winter Wonderland. Soon it will add a world-class art destination to its list of attractions.
From history and sports to magical illusions, here are more of Qatar’s must-visit museums.
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