Qatar is planning on building a five-story museum as part of its “city of the future” Lusail. The construction of the museum is set to start later on this year and the first images of the design are promising a unique, circular approach. Once completed (it should open in 2029), the building will not only house art exhibitions but there will also be room for a think tank dedicated to discussions on global issues.
Construction for Lusail, started in 2006. Located just 23 kilometres from the country’s capital of Doha, the new city spans over 38 square kilometres and 19 districts. Even though the development of Lusail is being carried out in phases and isn’t complete just yet, eventually, the city will be able to accommodate 450,000 people. Residential projects, schools, hotels, greenery and mosques: everything is planned to be as efficient as possible. To outsiders, the best-known part of Lusail is Qatar’s biggest stadium, which hosted a number of matches during the FIFA World Cup 2022.
The Lusail Museum, which will cover the cultural part of the city, will span over a surface of 11,000 square metres, but the plot of land it will sit on is ten times bigger. The surrounding area will be an integral part of its design, including greenery and relaxation zones where visitors will be able to sit down and take in their surroundings.
According to architect Jacques Herzog, who previously worked on the M+ Museum in Hong Kong and the Tate Modern in London, the circular design of the museum is inspired both by Muslim architecture and culture and by the surroundings. The crescent-shape of the building and the boulevard inside it weren’t chosen arbitrarily. “It’s a piece of identity for some Muslim dynasties but also in a more pragmatic way, it’s a boulevard curve where you don’t see exactly where it ends. That’s a detail which is important for us,” Herzog told CNN. “Where you start and where you end is not really predetermined and it leaves room for imagination.”
We want to do something for which you do not need to import everything. We want to make this building a contribution on the ecological level.
Jacques Herzog, architect
For the construction of the museum, Herzog wants to use as many local resources as possible. Moreover, local plants, solar panels and an efficient water management system will make sure the museum is as eco-friendly as can be.
Not only the design of the museum but also its contents will be inspired by islamic culture. Orientalist artwork will get a prominent place in four anchor rooms stand central, spaces inspired by Istanbul, Cairo, Zaragoza and Isfahan. Moreover, the museum is meant to function as a “layered souq” by integrating eateries, shops and even a mosque within its walls.
