National Museum of Qatar wins prestigious award at AAB Leaf awards in London. 

The National Museum of Qatar won the international award for ‘Façade Design and Engineering of the Year’ at the ABB LEAF Awards, which was held at the Royal Horseguards Hotel in London on 21 September 2017.

The National Museum is an architectural masterpiece designed by world-renowned French architect Jean Nouvel and is due to open in December 2018. Its interlocking discs are inspired by the desert rose and evoke the life of the Qatari people between the desert and the sea. The museum will combine historic objects and contemporary influences, opening up a dialogue around the impact of rapid change. It will give voice to Qatar’s heritage whilst celebrating its future.

Reflecting on this achievement as the project management consultant, ASTAD Chief Executive Officer, Engineer Ali Al-Khalifa said: “Recognitions of this level reaffirms our commitment and attention to detail throughout the development of complex mega projects. We have been working together with Qatar Museums to ensure the highly complex National Museum of Qatar is brought to life safely and sustainably. I am confident it will soon prove to be one of the Middle East’s most iconic landmarks.”

Qatar Museums Chief Executive Officer and Special Advisor to H.E. The Chairperson, Mansoor bin Ebrahim Al Mahmoud said: “The National Museum highlights our commitment to fulfilling the cultural goals of the 2030 Qatar National Vision, contributing towards creating a strong and sustainable cultural infrastructure for Qatar. The highly anticipated museum will be a thriving hub for the public, students, and museum professionals. It will redefine the role of a cultural institution, fostering a spirit of participation and providing the conditions for discovery to thrive.”

The design of the museum is an organically propagating series of interlocking disks that surround the structure, creating a ring of gallery spaces circling a central court. It will include permanent and temporary galleries, a 220-seat auditorium, two cafes, a restaurant, a gift shop, separate facilities for school groups and VIPs, heritage research centres and conservation laboratories.

The museum is built around Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani’s original palace, one of Qatar’s most recognisable 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 be a fitting central exhibit within the National Museum when it opens.

A series of exclusive tours of the National Museum of Qatar were recently organised by Qatar Museums with the support of ASTAD, offering members of the public a chance to get a glimpse of the building before final fit out begins later this year. Qatar Museums connects the museums, cultural institutions and heritage sites in Qatar and creates the conditions for them to thrive and flourish.

The LEAF Awards is an annual awards ceremony founded in 2001 which brings together leading architects, designers, developers and suppliers operating around the world. All shortlisted and winning projects are recognized for setting benchmarks for the future.