(Photo: Foster + Partners / Zayed National Museum)
The Zayed National Museum, an extraordinary project designed by the acclaimed British firm Foster + Partners, is approaching its final stages of construction in Abu Dhabi. This impressive structure is a visual masterpiece and incorporates a groundbreaking natural cooling system, making it a beacon of sustainable design in the region.
Design Inspired by Falconry and Islamic Motifs
Unveiled in 2010, the plans for the Zayed National Museum were intended to honor the UAE's first president, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The museum's unique winged form draws inspiration from Sheikh Zayed's passion for falconry and traditional Islamic motifs. The main building, a 98-foot-tall "mound," mimics the natural topography of the UAE. From this central structure, five decorative steel wings rise, ranging in height from 83 meters to 123 meters. These wings are aesthetically pleasing and play a crucial role in the building's natural ventilation system.
Natural Cooling Through Innovative Wing Design
The wings of the Zayed National Museum serve as functional elements to maintain a cool interior environment. Resembling the design of the RIBA Stirling Prize-winning New Library at Magdalene College, these wings operate like chimneys. They harness the thermal stack effect to pull hot air up and out of the building.
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"The heat at the top of the towers works to draw the air up vertically through the galleries due to the thermal stack effect," explained Foster + Partners. "Air vents open at the top of the wing-shaped towers, taking advantage of the negative pressure on the lee of the wing profile to draw the hot air out. Fresh air is also captured at a low level, drawn through buried ground-cooling pipes, and then released into the museum's lobby."
(Photo: Foster + Partners / Zayed National Museum)
A Focus on Sustainable and Natural Lighting
The Zayed National Museum features a massive atrium to capture attention and enhance the visitor experience. The interior layout revolves around this atrium, which is illuminated with indirect natural light to prevent excessive heating. The upper story houses four pod-shaped galleries positioned at the base of each wing, ensuring a naturally cooled and well-lit environment.
Exhibits Celebrating Heritage and Culture
Once completed, the Zayed National Museum will display several features: paleontological marine fossils estimated to be between two and sixty million years old, Aramean money, relics associated with fighting, and modern Syrian cultural items. Also, the museum will have a narrative landscape garden that will tell about the special stages in Sheikh Zayed's life. It will briefly describe his main achievements and the development of the UAE.
Zayed National Museum embodies the modern progressive approach to the design and construction of buildings. As already pointed out, through its winged design and built-in air conditioning system, it is not only a tribute to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan but also offers a model for future housing projects in hot climate zones. As the tower gets closer to completion, this museum will stand out as one of the most prominent cultural destinations in Abu Dhabi, where people from all over the world will visit to discover the value of this museum and appreciate the beauty of architectural work done.
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