Despite a minor fire last month, construction for Qatar’s upcoming National Museum remains on track, and an opening date is scheduled for 2016, Qatar Museums has confirmed.
When completed, the museum, located across from the Corniche near the Museum of Islamic Art, is expected to look like a desert rose that appears to grow out of the ground.
It will join Qatar’s growing collection of cultural facilities, including the MIA, which opened in 2008, and the Arab Museum of Modern Art (Mathaf), which saw a 2010 launch.
Late last year, Sheikha Amna bint Abdulaziz bin Jassim Al-Thani was appointed as the museum’s director.
Her role includes providing “curatorial and managerial leadership,” and supervising educational initiatives, special exhibitions and conferences, and public programs once the museum is open.
Timeline
Previously, a QM spokesperson said that construction on the National Museum is expected to be finished in December. More recently, a representative added that it would take six months for the cement “off-gassing,” or the release of emissions trapped inside the facility, to occur.
Installation of artwork is expected to take about a year after that, the spokesperson said.
In terms of which art pieces would be displayed inside the museum, QM has previously said that the facility would represent the “past, present and future of Qatar.”
The authority announced today that some items to be included in the museum are pieces of jewelry donated by Sheikha Maryam bint Mohammed bin Hamad Al Thani on behalf of her late sister, Sheikha Aisha bint Mohammed bin Hamad Al Thani, who died earlier this year.
The objects include a few gold items and a pearl necklace belonging to the collection of Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani.
In a statement, QM chairperson Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani said:
“The National Museum of Qatar is very happy to receive donations from members of the community. These objects will be preserved and shared with the public in order to ensure that our heritage and culture remain long after us.”
We thank all who contributed and continue to do so through the donation of objects, knowledge or oral histories. It’s because of your efforts that the NMoQ will achieve success when it opens in 2016.”
Visual update
In this video published on YouTube in late April, QMA offers a peek into the construction of the National Museum.
The five-minute video contains beautiful aerial perspectives of the development and interviews with key figures, including French architect Jean Nouvel, who designed the museum.
It also shows that the heart of the new development will be the original national museum, which opened in 1975, and was also the former Emiri palace of Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al-Thani.
Thoughts?
beautiful
As well as creative genius, what a lovely man Jean Nouvel. Can’t wait to have a look inside to see how the internal space works. When it’s finished it will be one the first buildings visitors to Qatar will see from the new airport before they join the corniche. Well done Qatar! Brilliant!
Although my money is in 2018 this will be a great addition to Qatar. Qatar lacks cultural activities, unless you count eating too much and smoking shisha. Museums as well as bringing many interesting artefacts help with a learning culture.
More places like this please Qatar!
Looking forward to seeing this finished. I love the architecture in Doha. They really know how to push the boundaries of the imagination. The skyline is one of my favorites out of many harbour cities we have visited.
The sad thing about these attractions is that they attract so few visitors, due to a fundamental lack of interest locally. I cannot remember the exact numbers from a recent article, but the number of visitors to the MIA (which is a world class museum) was less than the number of people served at the Vilagio Macdonalds.
I am not sure of the validity of a comparison between visits to a fast foot outlet and a museum, however MIA received its 1 millionth visitor in February 2013. During 2013 we received 313,604 visitors. So far 2014 has seen a month on month increase over last year.
MIA…would love to see the museum when opened 🙂
Don’t get me wrong. I love the MIA. It’s easily one of my five favorite museums on the planet. I am just appalled by how few people take advantage of what it has to offer, especially Qataris. Qataris I meet in Qatar and abroad almost inevitably ask the question “how do I find Qatar?”, and I invariably note that the MIA is amongst my favorite spots. Their response the vast majority of time is an embarrassing admission that they have never been inside.
In my opinion, that only 1 million visitors have been inside your fabulous institution is tragic.
I have to agree with you. When you have any project that showcases one’s history, it should draw the avid attention of all the citizens. Whenever I travel, one of the first things I seek out is to learn something of the culture and the artistic/historical portrayal of its “soul”.
I guess people get jaded when they see diamonds everyday around them, so to speak, and just develop a ho-hum attitude about the treasures they have in their midst.
Is this the building right behind the City Centre Mall?
No. It’s on the other side of the Corniche, near Souk Waqif.
It the building right next to Orient Pearl Restaurant near the Ras Abu Aboud flyover next to shark village.
I know a few blokes that graft at the Project and they say the Project is in the
cack and the PMC is rubbish…