#PROJECT: THE CULTURAL DISTRICT (Saadiyat Island)

[zee]

Abu Dhabi Performing Arts Centre - Design Concept
-

The Abu Dhabi Performing Arts Centre’s distinct formal language is derived from a set of typologies evident in organizational systems and growth in the natural world. These natural scenarios are formed by energy being supplied to enclosed systems, and the subsequent decrease in energy caused when organized structures develop in nature.

The ‘energy’ of the Performing Arts Centre is symbolized by the predominant movements in the urban fabric along the central axis of the pedestrian corridor and the cultural centre’s seafront promenade – the site’s two intersecting primary elements.

Growth-simulation processes have been used to develop spatial representations into a set of basic geometries and then superimposed with programmatic diagrams into a series of repeated cycles. The primary components of this biological analogy (branches, stems, fruits and leaves) are then transformed from these abstract diagrams into architectonic design.

The building, with panoramic views to the sea and the skyline of Abu Dhabi, will be part of an inclining ensemble of institutions of the cultural district on Saadiyat Island that stretch from the Maritime Museum at its southern end to Contemporary Art Museum at the northern tip.

Abu Dhabi Performing Arts Centre - Spatial Arrangement
-

The central axis of Abu Dhabi’s cultural district is a pedestrian corridor that stretches from the Sheikh Zayed National Museum toward the sea. This axis interacts with the seafront promenade to generate a branching geometry where islands are formed, isolated, and translated into distinct bodies within the Performing Arts Centre to house the main concert halls.

The proposed Abu Dhabi Performing Arts Centre contains five major performance halls. The Concert Hall is above the lower four theatres, allowing daylight into its interior and dramatic views of the sea and city skyline from the huge window behind the stage. Local lobbies for each theatre are orientated towards the sea to give visitors a constant visual contact with their surroundings.

On the north side of the building, the restaurant offers a wide, shaded roof terrace, accessible through the adjacent Conference Centre above the Lyric Theatre.

The Academy for Performing Arts is housed above the Experimental Theatre in the southern side of the Centre, whilst in the eastern ‘tail’ of the building, retail areas take advantage of pedestrian traffic using the bridge connecting the centre with the main pedestrian corridor of the Abu Dhabi cultural district on Saadiyat Island.

[zee]

Summary

The Abu Dhabi Cultural District on Saadiyat Island
-

The Solomon R Guggenheim Foundation has been working with the Tourism Development and Investment Company of Abu Dhabi (TDIC) to develop all five institutions on Saadiyat Island.

The five institutions of the Abu Dhabi Cultural District on Saadiyat Island:

- Abu Dhabi Performing Arts Centre by Zaha Hadid Architects

- Contemporary Arts Museum (Guggenheim Abu Dhabi) by Frank Gehry Partners

- Classical Art Museum by Jean Nouvel Studios

- Maritime Museum by Tadao Ando

- Sheikh Zayed National Museum: (Architect to be confirmed)

[KapitangKiko]

Abu Dhabi and French Governments in historic cultural accord
Louvre Abu Dhabi to be created within the Saadiyat Island Cultural District.


Front row (left to right): HE Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority and French Minister for Culture and Communications Renaud de Vabres. Second row (left to right): HH Sheikh Abdulla Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Patrice Paoli, French Ambassador to the UAE, Henri Loyette, Director of the Louvre and HE Abdul Rahman Al Owais, UAE Minister for Culture, Youth and Community Development.

The governments of Abu Dhabi - the capital of the United Arab Emirates - and the Republic of France have entered into an unprecedented 30-year cultural accord which will see the Louvre Abu Dhabi museum created within the Cultural District of Saadiyat Island - lying just 500 metres from Abu Dhabi city.

'This is a major achievement in Abu Dhabi's vision to become a world-class destination bridging global cultures,' said His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi. 'This accord further strengthens international dialogue, which will embrace all cultures.

'This initiative is a unique milestone in international co-operation and bi-lateral relations and a tribute to the long-standing and friendly ties our two nations have enjoyed. It also creates an enriching environment to be treasured by and to educate generations to come.'

This opportunity provides for long-term loans from the Louvre and major French museums such as the Musee du Quai Branley, Centre Georges Pompidou, Musee d'Orsay, Versailles, Guimet, Rodin and the Reunion des Musees Nationaux (RMN).

Temporary exhibitions will also be organised annually in the Louvre Abu Dhabi and will be included in the programme of international exhibitions exchanged between major museums worldwide.

This agreement ensures French museum expertise will assist with the acquisition over the next decade of an Abu Dhabi art collection. This support will also facilitate the development of educational programmes and specialised art conferences that will be held in Abu Dhabi aimed at inspiring and developing the next generation of cultural leaders.

To celebrate the new cultural collaboration, the Louvre will host a floor of galleries dedicated to the late UAE President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The commemorative galleries, on a floor of the Louvre's Pavillon de Flore, will open within the next three years and house permanent displays of international work.

In addition, a multi-purpose art research centre in France - which will be the largest of its kind in the world - will also carry the name of the emirate. Restoration of art works will be carried out at the Abu Dhabi centre, which will also be used to train restoration professionals.

Abu Dhabi will also contribute to the restoration of the theatre in the Château de Fontainebleau - the largest royal palace in France. Designed by Hector Lefuel between 1853 and 1856, the theatre, in the west of the château's Louis XV wing, will be named after His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The theatre still retains its original wall decorations, furniture and boxes as well as original stage machinery and the world's largest collection of stage scenery from the 18th and 19th centuries.

The Château de Fontainebleau was built in 1137 and was a favourite royal residence for centuries. Generations of royalty left their mark on the château, including Louis XIV whose additions left a distinct Versailles touch. In 1804 the château became an imperial residence in the reign of Napoleon Ist. It became a national museum in 1927.

'By choosing the Louvre, the emirate of Abu Dhabi not only sealed a partnership with the world's most visited and well-known museum, but selected one which, from its very inception, had a vocation to reach out to the world, to the essence of mankind, through the contemplation of works of art,' said French President, Jacques Chirac.

'Having been originally created from ancient French Royal collections, and constantly enriched over more than two centuries, the Louvre has adhered, from its beginning, to a conviction that art is a universal messenger. With the Louvre, the emirate of Abu Dhabi pays tribute to this classical heritage and masterpieces of the past and in maintaining the momentum, it is committed to discovering a centuries old creation and demonstrating how it values heritage while spearheading the future.'

The Louvre Abu Dhabi will be a universal museum with exhibits encompassing a diversity of cultures.

'The Louvre Abu Dhabi will empower a new era of international cultural co-operation,' said His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and Chairman of the Executive Council. 'In the long-term the Louvre Abu Dhabi will become autonomous. It will be a national, regional and international asset allowing all to fully participate in an interconnected global cultural understanding.'

The accord, the first of its kind for the Louvre, was signed in Abu Dhabi today by His Excellency Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority and Tourism Development and Investment Company, and the French Minister for Culture and Communications Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres, who headed a delegation to the UAE capital which included the President-Director of the Louvre Henri Loyrette as well as the Director of French Museums Francine Mariani-Ducray and museums curators.

'We have decided to create together a museum destined to foster cultural dialogue between East and West by exhibiting works of major importance from all the domains of the history of art, spanning all historic periods, including the contemporary, and all geographic regions,' said Minister de Vabres. 'The Louvre Abu Dhabi will make use of the most innovative techniques in the field of museography, fulfilling, at all times, the quality criteria and scientific and museographic aims of the Louvre.

'France views this as a collective project which allows it to demonstrate to the world its unique expertise and know-how in the museum domain. To be co-ordinated by the Ministry of Culture and Communications, the French contribution will bring together the country's leading national museums. Our aim is to jointly realise a major French museum of the 21st century that will be a scientific and cultural benchmark for museums worldwide.'

The 24,000 square metre Louvre Abu Dhabi, which will have 6,000 square metres of galleries devoted to permanent displays and 2,000 square metres for temporary exhibitions, is expected to open in 2012. The galleries will open to the public in successive phases.

The Louvre Abu Dhabi will exhibit major artifacts and works in archaeology, the fine arts and decorative arts from all historic periods, but pre-dominantly classical.

Designed by award-winning French architect Jean Nouvel, the designer behind the Musee du Quai Branley, the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris and the Opera de Lyon, the Louvre Abu Dhabi will be housed in the Cultural District of Saadiyat Island, which is being transformed into a strategic international destination for cultural enlightenment.

The Louvre Abu Dhabi is one of several iconic museums, including a performing arts centre, a Sheikh Zayed National Museum, a Guggenheim Abu Dhabi modern and contemporary art museum, a Maritime Museum, and a Biennale Park with 19 pavilions. Together they make up the world's largest cultural destination.

Leading architects, including Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid, Tado Andao and Jean Nouvel were commissioned for the concept designs for all the Cultural District's components.

'Together these museums deliver the most dramatic cultural unveiling ever conceived,' said His Excellency Sheikh Sultan. 'The Louvre Abu Dhabi will give the Cultural District destination even greater significance. It signals a new era of social awareness and will deliver to the nation and the region economic and human impact which will be profound and far-reaching.'

Saadiyat Island, said Sheikh Sultan, will play an integral role in realising the UAE capital's ambition to be globally recognised as a world-class cultural destination.

Apart from the displays and productions to be shown and performed in the Cultural District, the architecture of Nouvel, Gehry, Hadid and Tadao, designed as 21st century icons, is expected to be a considerable cultural draw in its own right.

Designed as a seemingly floating dome structure, Nouvel's concept has been described as an engineering feat. Its web-patterned dome allows the sun to filter through, reminiscent of rays passing through date palm fronds in an oasis.

The Louvre Abu Dhabi's concept design is on show in an exhibition devoted to Saadiyat Island's Cultural District which is open to the public from 10am until 10pm daily, in the UAE capital's

[Krazy]

Louvre Abu Dhabi?

[smussuw]

Am jealous

[malec]

Wouldn't the French be a bit pissed off?

[smussuw]

they are already

[Krazy]

Dubai can continue building it's arab man tower and upside down towers... we in abu dhabi will take the louvres and guggenhiems

[smussuw]

hmmm the bribe was worth it I guess

[Krazy]

[Krazy]

Louvre comes to Abu Dhabi as UAE and France seal pact


The computer image shows a view of the Louvre museum to be built in Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi: Months of speculation ended yesterday with the signing of a historic cultural accord between the UAE and France to set up the Louvre Abu Dhabi museum.

The one-billion euro museum covering an area of 24,000 sq metres is expected to open its doors in 2012, as part of Saadiyat Island's Cultural District project.

The 30-year agreement was signed by Shaikh Sultan Bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority and Tourism Development and Investment Company and the French Minister for Culture and Communications Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres, in the presence of Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

Following the signing of the agreement, President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan said the UAE is striving to achieve a cultural renaissance through revival and promotion of the country's cultural heritage.

"We are embarking on massive cultural projects that are not only aimed at preserving our country's heritage and history but also meant to bridge the gap between world cultures," he said in remarks during a meeting yesterday with de Vabres.

The bilateral pact provides for long-term loans from the Louvre and other French museums such as the Musee du Quai Branly, Centre Georges Pompidou, Musee d'Orsay, Versailles, Guiment and Rodin.

De Vabres insisted that the accord was not a 'market'. "It is a magnificent project, in that it is humanistic and it is a call for intercultural dialogue," he said.

"But we are not selling our art. Some art works will never leave France to go anywhere, but still, some important pieces will." The French Louvre, established in 1793, is the world's most visited museum.

[Krazy]

[Julito-dubai]

...when the aliens are flying over new york like in 'independence day'

[Julito-dubai]

looks like a giant UFO

[malec]

Love it

[KapitangKiko]

Might look like a UFO from atop outside but the effect under the dome which covers the galleries is quite cool. Almost like the shade of a canopy of trees in a forest.




And the usual negative press from the US media on anything of middle eastern initiative here:
The Louvre’s Art: Priceless. The Louvre’s Name: Expensive.

[KapitangKiko]

Duke of York visits Saadiyat Island Cultural District exhibition
United Arab Emirates: Sunday, March 11 - 2007 at 14:27 PRESS RELEASE

His Royal Highness Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, has hailed plans for the Cultural District of Saadiyat Island, which lies just offshore the UAE capital city, as 'a cultural beacon.'


(l-r) Lee Tabler, CEO TDIC; H.E. Sheikh Sultan, HRH Prince Andrew and Mubarak Al Muhairi, M.D. TDIC. Sheikh Sultan briefs the Duke of York on plans for Saadiyat Island's Cultural District.

His comments came as the Prince, fourth in line to the British throne, made a private visit to the Saadiyat Island Cultural District exhibition at Abu Dhabi's seven-star Emirates Palace Hotel.

The exhibition charts the design concepts behind the museums, art galleries and performing arts centres planned for the Cultural District, including the Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim Abu Dhabi contemporary art museum and the recently-announced Louvre Abu Dhabi, designed by French architect Jean Nouvel.

Prince Andrew was welcomed to the exhibition by His Excellency Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) and of Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), the company behind the transformation of Saadiyat Island into a strategic tourism destination.

'I am very excited to have seen the plans for Saadiyat,' said HRH Prince Andrew. 'It is an ambitious and innovative development, a cultural beacon in the region.'

Other designs on show in the exhibition include Zaha Hadid's concept for a Performing Arts Centre and Japan's Tadao Ando's design for a Maritime Museum. The Cultural District will also feature a museum dedicated to the late UAE President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, which will be subject to an international design competition and a Biennale Park with 19 pavilions for the arts and culture.

The Cultural District is one of six distinct districts planned for Saadiyat Island - which translates from Arabic as 'Island of Happiness.' With the Cultural District Abu Dhabi is aiming to create a cultural asset for the world which will be an international gateway for cultural experience and exchange.

The Saadiyat Island Cultural Exhibition is open daily at Emirates Palace from 10am until 10pm. Admission is free.

[Abu Dhabi Boy]

[E -zone ³]

master piece¡¡¡¡

A guggenheim and a LOUVRE as neighbours????

I WILL have to see that with my own eyes if built.

[Julito-dubai]

This is what i meant