With the expert help from the French, Abu Dhabi brought to life the Middle East’s first universal museum; the Louvre Abu Dhabi. The museum presents a mix of contemporary and ancient works of cultural, historical and sociological interest from around the world.
The architect
Jean Nouvel designed the Louvre. He won the Pritzker Architecture Prize. He was inspired by the lagoon island surrounded by sand and sea, shade and light and used this to design the Louvre Abu Dhabi.
Size and Weight
The Louvre Abu Dhabi is said to weigh as much as the Eiffel Tower. The museum spans an area of 64,000 m2, while the dome measures 180 metres in diameter; weighing approximately 7,500 tonnes.
Opening
If you’re sightseeing in Abu Dhabi in November, book your tickets for the grand opening on November 11. Those staying at nearby accommodation such as Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa by Anantara will find that the Louvre Abu Dhabi is merely 30 minutes away.
Collection
The Louvre Abu Dhabi will display some fine works from a variety of French museums such as the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Centre Georges Pompidou, and Palace of Versailles. Several iconic works such as La Bella Ferronniere by Leonardo Da Vinci, Vincent Van Gogh’s self-portrait and masterpieces of Henri Matisse have been loaned to the Louvre Abu Dhabi.
Intrigued by history, art and food, Lavinia Woolf is a writer who is passionate about the extraordinary and writes of the exhilarating and enchanting. Google+