The National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) is opening its doors to the public today (March 28) following the attraction’s star-studded opening ceremony.
Designed by Jean Nouvel, the Pritzker Prize-winning French architect, the futuristic, sand-coloured NMoQ resembles a giant desert rose.
The new attraction offers visitors a journey through a series of unique environments, including architectural space, music, poetry, archaeological objects, artworks, art films, and more.
Nouvel, who also designed Abu Dhabi’s Louvre, said at a press briefing: “This is not just an open exhibition space.
“This is a building with various dimensions – high and low ceilings – a combination that is expressive and unique in the world.”
The opening ceremony was attended by a host of celebrities, including Victoria Beckham, Johnny Depp, Jose Mourinho, Naomi Campbell and Luke Evans.
NMoQ desert rose design
“We decided we wanted to make this a very accessible museum,” Sheikha Amna bint Abdulaziz bin Jassim Al Thani, director of NMoQ, told Al Jazeera.
“We were determined to make this an engaging and encouraging museum.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvhh_hDnLwX/
The museum, designed as a free-form space, does not have doors – offering visitors a fluid experience as they take in the story of Qatar’s history.
The petals of the rose act as walls within the internal structure, which feature videos of Qatari nationals depicting life in the country, including pearl divers, women weaving and the process of traditional coffee-making.
NMoQ is located near Doha’s airport highway, and sits near the Doha Corniche, the main waterfront promenade.
“Architecture is the testimony of an epoch,” Nouvel told The Guardian. “This building is a testimony of this moment in Qatar – a very, very powerful period that has seen a very strong mutation.”
Image: NMoQ / Instagram
