The Louvre Abu Dhabi Iconic Dome and "Rain of Light"
Finally! After what seemed like forever, we were able to visit the Louvre Abu Dhabi last weekend. The Louvre Abu Dhabi is an art museum that opened in 2017, located in Saadiyat Island, about 15 minutes drive from down town. I can distinctly remember how this project excited the residents in the country -- "A Louvre Museum in the Capital. Wow, that is France, a few minutes away from me!", I thought.
This iconic structure took eight (8) years to complete from 2009 to 2017. From afar, residents could only wonder how it would look like. Towards its inauguration, the below timelapse was released.
Simply amazing, isn't it?
The Louvre AD is the brainchild of French architect, Jean Nouvel. What he was able to achieve was a design inspired by modern architecture and the traditions of the region.
The museum complex is composed of low-rise buildings, as inspired by the homes in the Arab region. I now have to remember where I heard or read, it described the buildings of the Louvre as like sugar cubes, protected by a metal dome.
The latticework dome is visible from the sea and even from downtown Abu Dhabi. The dome is a complex, geometric structure of 7,850 stars, put together in different sizes and angles, in eight layers. [1]
It is very hot and humid in the country during this time of the year (July) as the summer peaks, and the dome provides a shade for the outdoor plaza of the museum. Visitors can walk through building to building under a "rain of light" as the sun's light penetrates the perforations of the dome.
Facts and figures
7,500 t – the total weight of the dome – similar to the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
8 layers – the layers of the dome. Four outer layers of stainless steel, four inner layers of aluminium.
7,850 – the number of ‘stars’ in the dome’s pattern.
13 m across – the largest ‘star’, which also weighs 1.3 t.
4 – the number of piers that support the dome to make it ‘float’. Each is 110 m apart, hidden within the structure.
180 m – the diameter of the dome’s base.
40 m above sea level – the level of the building.
36 m – the level of the dome above ground.
(https://www.louvreabudhabi.ae/en/about-us/architecture)
A Museum City in the Sea
The Louvre Abu Dhabi is surrounded by water. Visitors can see the Arabian Sea through the large glass windows, or even through a kayak activity that the museum offers.
Most of the glass windows would have quotes written on them in three languages -- Arabic, English, and French.
My extremely mediocre photography skills captured the both the water and a subtle "rain of lights" in the picture below. "Yay", me! LOL
Services and Accessibility
You can get to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, located in Saadiyat Island, through private vehicles or public transport. There is a public bus route that passes by the area from downtown, and taxis are easy to get or book.
Upon entering the vicinity, there are ample free parking spaces available for the visitors. A few hundred meters walk is required until the main entrance is reached but buggies are available for everyone. This is really appreciated especially during these extremely hot months, but I am sure that a leisurely walk around the area will be preferred in colder months.
Inside, complimentary wheelchairs and strollers are available for those who require them. The museum is big, featuring 12 galleries so elderlies and smaller kids might want to avail them.
There is also an area in L -1 where one of the exhibits was held. They have this stairs lift installed that could help people of determination to navigate up and down the stairs.
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Some Artworks on Display
We spent around five (5) hours inside the museum and it is honestly not enough if we were to explore everything the museum has to offer. Having three children, we spent a lot of time inside the Children's Museum, which they truly enjoyed.
I tried to take a lot of photos but I feel most of them are for another topic altogether. Right now, I would like to share four photos of huge art works featured in different galleries. I hope it can give you a perspective of the "low-rise" structure of the buildings, hence low ceilings too.
As I prepare this post, I realized there is still a lot that could have been explored in the Louvre. We as a family had a great time in this activity and I am sure that this visit won't be the last.
More Information
How to get there:
Louvre Abu Dhabi
Saadiyat Island Cultural District
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
https://goo.gl/maps/o7UZUnYco1bi2N6i6
Opening Time:
Museum Galleries, Temporary exhibitions and Children’s Museum
Tuesday - Sunday | 10am – 6.30pm
Monday | closed
Last entry with a pre-booked ticket is at 6:00pm
Access via main entrance.
Ticket desk closes at 5:30pm
Health Protocol:
All visitors must show a ‘Green’ status on the Alhosn app to enter the museum (14 days PCR required when fully vaccinated, 48hr when unvaccinated)
Masks must be worn inside the museum at all times.
Buy Admission Tickets online:
https://www.louvreabudhabi.ae/en/buy-ticket/Admissions#Account
General Admission Tickets Cost:
AED 63 (incl. VAT) Adults 18+.
Children under 18, residents 60+ enter for free.
References:
- Louvre Abu Dhabi Architecture - https://www.louvreabudhabi.ae/en/about-us/architecture
All photos are owned by the author.
