Design of Zayed National Museum, part of the Saadiyat Island Cultural District. ABU DHABI: The design and program of the Zayed National Museum - the UAE's first national museum that will feature the life and achievements of the founding President of the United Arab Emirates, the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan - was presented in Abu Dhabi Thursday. The museum, which will bring to life the UAE's rich history, will also serve as a memorial to Sheikh Zayed, and is set to stand alongside the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and the Louvre Abu Dhabi among the iconic Saadiyat Island Cultural District's institutions. The design for the Zayed National Museum was officially unveiled by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. Set among lush gardens, the design features five soaring pavilions, representing the feathers of a falcon's wing, reaching a height of 124 meters, towering over the glittering waters of the Gulf. Commenting on the launch, Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, said: “The Zayed National Museum is destined to become an inspiring permanent reminder of the vision handed down to us from the father of our nation, the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan to unite all Emiratis and build a strong and prosperous nation. As a fitting memorial and a national institution, the museum will serve as a symbol of our historic cultural roots and of the many achievements of our country, providing us with an incentive to continue building our country with the same will and determination.” Scheduled for completion in 2014, museum also stands as a symbol of the modernity of the UAE, and its rapid progression over the past forty years. The spirit of excellence and endeavor and great faith in the future of the Emirati people has been behind the fundamental growth in economic, social, education and health sectors, and the museum will help ensure that future generations can appreciate the enormity of these changes. The design of the museum draws inspiration from falconry, a powerful symbol in the UAE and part of its cultural heritage and way of life, with five towers reminiscent of the wing tips of the birds. The design also serves to deliver environmental advantages, as the buildings are positioned to channel air through the museum, reducing the energy demands required to cool the complex. The towers are also designed to take advantage of the regions constant sunshine, with carefully positioned openings drawing light in to illuminate the interior spaces in a creative manner.
