Zayed National Museum
Zayed National Museum (Arabic: مَتْحَف زَايِد ٱلْوَطَنِي, romanized: Matḥaf Zāyid Al-Waṭanī) is a planned museum, to be located in Abu Dhabi, the UAE. It is designed as a memorial to the late Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father and first president of the UAE.[1] The museum is planned to be the centrepiece of the Saadiyat Island Cultural District,[2] and will showcase the history, culture, and economic transformation of the Emirates.[3]
مَتْحَف زَايِد ٱلْوَطَنِي (in Arabic) | |
Location | Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE |
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Coordinates | 24°32′4.43″N 54°25′7.69″E |
Type | National museum |
Architect | Foster + Partners |
Website | Zayed National Museum |
The museum is currently under construction and is expected to open in 2021.[4]
History
The museum has been designed by Foster + Partners with five solar thermal towers that will act as chimneys to draw cool air through the building.[1] The towers are shaped like falcon wings to commemorate Zayed's love of falconry.[3]
In 2009, the Zayed Museum signed a ten-year contract with the British Museum.[5][6] The British Museum would assist with curation and loan about 500 of its treasures to the Zayed Museum.[6]
The museum was projected for completion in 2013, however, as of November 2017, construction has not yet begun.[6] According to The New York Times, the British Museum thinks that it is unlikely that any items will be loaned under the current contract, which ends in 2019.[6]
References
- www.fosterandpartners.com, Foster + Partners /. "Zayed National Museum | Foster + Partners". www.fosterandpartners.com. Retrieved 2017-11-08.
- Zendera, Yamurai. "TDIC floats Zayed National Museum tender | ConstructionWeekOnline.com". www.constructionweekonline.com. Retrieved 2017-11-08.
- "Zayed National Museum, Abu Dhabi Building - e-architect". e-architect. 2010-11-25. Retrieved 2017-11-08.
- "Zayed National Museum to open in Abu Dhabi in 2021". What's On Dubai. 2019-11-19. Retrieved 2019-11-23.
- "British Museum to help launch Zayed National Museum in Abu Dhabi". eTurboNews. July 25, 2009. Retrieved October 24, 2011.
- "Construction Delays Sink British Museum's Deal With Abu Dhabi". NYT. October 30, 2017. Retrieved November 8, 2017.