High ventilation towers modelled on the wings of a falcon signal the new Zayed National Museum by British studio Foster + Partners on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi.
It is the centrepiece of the cultural district, where the Louvre Abu Dhabi by Jean Nouvel and the upcoming Guggenheim museum by Frank Gehry are also located. It is dedicated to the UAE founder Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and celebrates the history, culture and landscape of the Emirates across seven galleries.
The 88,870-square-metre museum is defined by its five giant steel towers, they are positioned to prevent overshadowing so natural light can enter through their glazed exteriors. Together, they are intended to emulate bird wings, symbolising Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan's love for falconry.
The interiors, in a in a pure white, are characterised by suspending pods, which are clad in glass-reinforced concrete panels, with gaps created around them, allowing natural light from the towers to enter the lobby and bouncing off on the walls.
Designed with a eco-friendly approach, Zayed National Museum is also cooled by the faceted mound that envelops its exterior, designed to evoke desert topography.