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13 of the world's top architectural firms in Sheikh Zayed National Museum design competition |
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June 12, 2007 Thirteen of the world's top architectural practices from 11 countries are to enter the international design competition launched to secure an inspirational concept for the planned Sheikh Zayed National Museum in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)  The museum, which will be built in the Cultural District of Saadiyat Island - the tourism, cultural and residential destination being created 500 metres offshore Abu Dhabi city - will honour the late Ruler of Abu Dhabi and UAE President, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. "All 13 practices competing have been selected for their experience in delivering cultural and museum assets of world-class standing and for the breadth of international design discipline they represent," said His Excellency Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority and Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), the name behind Saadiyat Island's transformation. The competitors are: Atelier Christian de Portzamparc of France; A.N. Tombazias & Associates of Greece; Bernard Tschumi Architects and Eisenman Architects of the USA; Jordan's Dar-Al Omran; the UK's Fosters + Partners Limited; Austria's Hans Hollein Architekt; Mario Bellini Associati and M. Fuksa Arch of Italy; Canada's Moriyama & Teshima Architects; Shigeru Ban Architects of Japan; Spain's Ricardo Bofill Taller and Norway's Snohetta. Following a familiarisation trip to the UAE capital, which included a detailed briefing on Sheikh Zayed's life, a tour of the 27 square kilometre Saadiyat Island and emphasis on the design criteria of environmental efficiency and sustainability, all 13 are now to submit their concept designs by fall this year. The winning design will be chosen by a three-strong expert judging panel which includes: the UK's Farshid Moussavi, a practicing architect and Professor In Practice in the Department of Architecture at Harvard University Graduate School of Design. A steering committee member for this year's Aga Khan Architectural prize and a well-known design critic; Britain's Peter Wilson, Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company's redevelopment project and Head of Collections and former Director of Major Projects for London's Tate Gallery. Finally from the USA Mohsen Mostafavi, Dean of Cornell University's College of Architecture, Art and Planning. The jury composition reflects our desire to have a widespread of expertise," explained Sheikh Sultan. The Sheikh Zayed National Museum will span 130,000 square feet and feature five galleries individually devoted to UAE Heritage, the Environment, The Transformation of the Emirates, United Through Leadership and Education. The museum will also include an education centre, theatre, shops and a café and a visitor services area. The Sheikh Zayed Museum will be an additional asset in Saadiyat Island's Cultural District proposition which also includes the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi contemporary art museum, the Louvre Abu Dhabi universal museum, a Performing Arts Centre, a Maritime Museum and a Biennale Park with 19 pavilions devoted to culture and the arts. Four of the world's most eminent architects - Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid, Jean Nouvel and Tadao Ando - have created the concepts behind what is the most dramatic cultural statement ever conceived. An exhibition on Saadiyat Island's Cultural District and its museum and arts centre concepts is currently running at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi. The museum is open to the public from 10am until 10pm daily. The exhibition offers a fascinating insight into the Abu Dhabi of tomorrow. It is unique in that it gathers together in one place the latest work of some of the most recognised architects of the 21st century. Moriyama & Teshima Architects, Canada: This is one of Canada's premier design oriented architectural firms. Its extensive portfolio of projects include commercial, institutional and cultural projects in over a dozen countries. Currently, the firm's work ranges from several large-scale projects integrating technology and innovative environments for working and learning with substantial design, to a new 18,000 square feet Buddhist temple. In addition to its work in architecture and urban design, Moriyama & Teshima Architects has also been recognised for its environmental planning project, receiving awards from sources such as Progressive Architecture Magazine and the Waterfront Center in Washington, DC. About Saadiyat Island: Saadiyat Island - which translates from Arabic as Island of Happiness - is the largest single mixed-use development in the Arabian Gulf. The 27 square kilometre natural island - half the size of Bermuda - lies only 500 metres offshore Abu Dhabi island - the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. Saadiyat Island is being developed into a complete visitor and residential destination. Saadiyat Island represents one of the most important development opportunities in Abu Dhabi's history. The island, which has 30kms of water frontage and boasts many natural eco-features including mangrove forests, is being developed as a strategic international tourism destination and marks a new era in the rapid evolution of Abu Dhabi, the largest of the seven emirates which form the UAE Federation. Saadiyat Island will be developed in three phases with total completion scheduled for 2018. The masterplan envisages seven highly individual districts and includes 29 hotels, including an iconic 7-star property, three marinas with combined berths for around 1,000 boats, museums and cultural centres, two golf courses, civic and leisure facilities, sea-view apartments and elite villas. Saadiyat Island is expected to be home to a community of more than 150,000 people - the same population size as Chang Mai in Thailand, Oxford in the UK or Hollywood in the USA. Saadiyat Island will be linked to the main Abu Dhabi island and the Abu Dhabi mainland via two, 10-lane freeways making the destination easily accessible to Abu Dhabi International Airport, which will be just a 25 kilometre drive away. Saadiyat Island is being developed by the Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), an independent public joint stock company of which Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority is the sole shareholder. TDIC's strategy is to dispose of development land on the island to private investors who will each develop their sites in accordance with the masterplan and supporting planning regulations and design guidelines. About Tourism Development & Investment Company: Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) is a public joint stock company established under Law No: 12 of 2005 as decreed by the Abu Dhabi Ruler and UAE President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. TDIC is an independent organisation empowered to manage the tourism investment zones of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), which directs and implements strategy for the expansion of the emirate's tourism sector. TDIC will develop the real estate assets that support ADTA's mission of assisting UAE economic diversification through tourism development. TDIC, launched with an initial paid-up capital of AED100 million (US $27.5 million) with its shareholding fully owned by ADTA, operates along strictly commercial lines with its projects being self-sustaining and economically feasible. Its activities include creating development and tourism related concepts for specific sites and locations, disposing of, or repositioning, government-owned tourism related assets, entering into joint ventures with investment partners for assets such as hotels or residential products, as well as serving as the master developer for large scale projects. For further information:
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