jean nouvel-designed qatar national museum set to open in march 2019

photographer iwan baan has taken new images of the qatar national museum, a major new institution that is currently under construction in doha. designed by french architect jean nouvel, the building’s form is inspired by the desert rose and will combine historic objects and contemporary influences, opening up a dialogue around the impact of rapid change. the museum seeks to give voice to qatar’s heritage, while celebrating its future. the museum is set to open to the public on march 28, 2019.

close-up view of the museum’s interlocking disks
image © iwan baan (also main image)

the national museum of qatar is committed to preserving the dhows, traditional sailing vessels that were once doha’s lifeblood. in times gone by, they enabled trade, pearling and fishing. beyond gallery space, the jean nouvel-designed museum will also include: a 220-seat auditorium, two retail outlets, two restaurants and a café, a dedicated food forum, preserving culinary traditions, a research center and laboratories, and a park filled with indigenous plants.

the form of the building is inspired by the desert rose
image © iwan baan

the museum is built around sheikh abdullah bin jassim al thani’s original palace, one of qatar’s most recognizable landmarks and a building that served as a monument to a historic way of life in qatar. this palace has a unique historical significance for the state of qatar and has been recently fully restored. the palace will serve as a central exhibit within the national museum when it opens in late 2018.

the museum is built around sheikh abdullah bin jassim al thani’s original palace
image © iwan baan

view from the old palace into the courtyard of the upcoming national museum of qatar
image © iwan baan

aerial view of the upcoming national museum of qatar designed by atelier jean nouvel
image © iwan baan