CASE STUDY

Louvre Art Museum, Abu Dhabi

HISTORY CONTEXT
The idea of the museum was The museum is made on Saadiyat
initiated in 2005 but island which is a manmade island
construction started in 2009. focused on increasing the tourism of abu
The museum runs under a dhabi.
cultural exchange agreement
between UAE and France , It has been described as France’s
signed in 2007, to form a largest cultural project abroad with
partnership aiming to bridge the approximately 26000m^2 in size.
gap between eastern and It is said to exhibit 600 artifacts out of
western art. which 300 would be from the Louvre in
Paris.

The ramp
leading into the
museum
provides shade
to the visitors
without cutting
out the sunlight
which plays into
Entry from boats- the interiors
the concept of
seem dark which gives the
the lighting
feeling that we are entering an
inside the
alien land especially with the
museum itself
dome imitating the futuristic Entry from land
shape of a disk
 CASE STUDY
Louvre Art Museum, Abu Dhabi
CLIMATE RESPONSE

The dome is inspired by the palm trees of abu

dhabi. The dome protects the interior from the heat
Wind of Abu Dhabi by 8 outer layers providing shading
direction and reduce the temp by 5 degrees

The exhibition blocks are placed in such a way that they do not
block the winds coming from the north west direction.
These winds over the water body help in keeping the museum
cool and providing ventilation so visitors can be relaxed and
spend a lot of time inside

Both of these elements create a micro climate inside the The water bodies in and around the museum help in
museum which is cool and relaxing, in contrast to the heat creating a cooling effect.
of abu dhabi This is inspired by the falaj irrigation system of abu
dhabi
 CASE STUDY
Louvre Art Museum, Abu Dhabi
ARCHITECT’S PHILOSOPHY
Jean nouvel is an architect of contrast- mass and void, light and dark, traditional and contemporary.
He believes in creating a visual landscape
Nouvel believes in having a single, dominant concept in each of his projects

Arab world institute, Paris Louvre art museum, Abu Dhabi

The south facade has photosensitive The dome is inspired by an arabic cupola to
cells that change shape and size thus, protect the museum city like the cupola is used as
controlling the amount of light that enters a symbol of protection.
. these are placed in an arab style lattice The dome has perforations in order for the sunlight
pattern. to escape strategically into the museum.
This provides natural lighting inside and creates
In both the cases, he took a traditional element from the
interesting patterns as the sun moves throughout
arabic culture and gave a modern twist to it which is
the day
technological advanced as well as energy efficient
 CASE STUDY
Louvre Art Museum, Abu Dhabi
ANALYSIS
The form is inspired by an arabic medina or a small city.
It is made up of 55 white volumes out of which 23 are permanent galleries

Cafe in museum and public

buildings in shibam settlement
are both social places at the
end of the city

There is a single main route

between different blocks or
houses

Houses are placed in a way that

is central to the mosque. Here,
the central place is made so
people can sit and contemplate
the art

Louvre art museum Shibam city

Permanent galleries Administration Settlements

Temporary galleries Entrance Mosques

Restaurant Collection treatment Public buildings

CIRCULATION
 CASE STUDY
Louvre Art Museum, Abu Dhabi
FORM AND VOLUMETRIC ANALYSIS

The edge of the dome

looks more futuristic as
it is closer to the ground
than the centre. Houses are placed in a way that is
This gives an outworldly central to the mosque. Here, the
experience to the central place is made so people can
visitors rather than a sit and contemplate the art
traditional arabic
experience which is
what the exhibitions
present

Such places are created

so that the visitors can
sit and relax and think
about art. The water
makes it a very calm
The white buildings makes it look like and pleasant
we are walking through a small city, environment.
which is what the architect was
inspired by. It looks peaceful and a
place that takes you out of reality
 CASE STUDY
Louvre Art Museum, Abu Dhabi
Steel
UHPC for walls- plain MATERIALS USED
Used to resist the
white walls so that the extreme
pattern formed by the environment of the
light and exhibit is site; an island
highlighted exposed to desert
heat and high
humidity, surrounded
by salty ocean spray
Stone floor to keep
the area cooler ● 3% molybdenum containing type
Different exhibitions 2205 duplex stainless steel was
have different flooring used which is significantly more
depending on the corrosion resistant
time period of the ● Metal roofs are also energy
artworks efficient. It can reduce cooling
costs by 25%
● They are durable as well as eco
friendly

Cast glass is used in the ceiling

of galleries to ensures
glare-free and uniform
illumination. These either have
different structures or are
twisted to each other.
 CASE STUDY
Louvre Art Museum, Abu Dhabi
INNOVATIVE INTERIOR LIGHTING
It is necessary to put the works of
art in the right light and at the
same time to protect them from
the effects of harmful direct
sunlight. The effect of light
refraction is enhanced by the use
of cast glass. Different cast
glasses were also combined for
the desired diffuse lighting effect.

Uniform and glare free lighting allows the Sketch to show refraction of light
viewers to see the paintings comfortably

Different refractive
angles scatter the
light evenly in
space

SECTION WITH SKYLIGHTS IN GALLERIES

 CASE STUDY
Louvre Art Museum, Abu Dhabi
THE DOME
It is an abstract representation of a traditional arabic cupola.
The objective was to create a complex filter of the intensely bright desert sun, to create a dancing interplay between light and
shadow around the galleries, plazas and reflecting pools.

The dome is a complex structure of 7850 stars. These stars are

repeated at various sizes and angles in eight different
layers.

As the sun passes above, its light filters through the

perforations to create a effect called ‘rain of light’. The beauty
is that it creates random patterns like the stars in the cosmos

The dome appears floating in the sea as it is supported by

only 4 pillars placed 110m apart

LIGHTING AT DIFFERENT TIME OF THE DAY

Here, the sun is Whereas in this

right above the image, the sun is at
dome which creates an angle which
such a dramatic creates a more
effect around the calm and relaxing
artifact.. atmosphere.
 CASE STUDY
Louvre Art Museum, Abu Dhabi
THE DOME

Only 1.8% of light enters

through the dome at a time.
The dome reduces heat
gain by 98% and that is why
having 8 well ventilated
layers were important rather
than having one.
This makes the place
energy efficient as well as
provides aesthetically
pleasing natural lighting.

The dome mimics the pattern of

the mashrabiya jali.
There is separation between the
layers so that the visitors can look
The first four layers are of stainless steel and up and see the logic behind the
the inner four are made of aluminium. dome. This would make them
connect to the space