Louvre Abu Dhabi

When art meets sand and sky

Turner provided Project Management on this landmark project undertaken by the TDIC, which represented unprecedented cooperation between the governments of Abu Dhabi and France. Located within the culture district at Saadiyat Island, Louvre Abu Dhabi is a fine arts museum displaying paintings, drawings, sculptures, manuscripts, archaeological findings, and decorative arts, created and collected from all over the world. The project consists of 64,000 sq. m. of built-up area including a permanent gallery of 6,700 sq. m., a temporary gallery of 2,400 sq. m., and a 233 sq. m. children's museum. The project is surrounded by the Arabian Gulf and 16,000 sq. m. of landscaping and water features. Designed by architect Jean Nouvel, who describes the architecture of Louvre Abu Dhabi as an “island on an island,” the project comprises numerous buildings interconnected by interior and exterior spaces dispersed amongst ponds, water features, and landscaped areas. Many of the features are inspired by Islamic, Arabic, and local influences. This blend of styles is most prominent in the 180-meter diameter dome. As natural light passes through the interlaced mushrabiya-style structure a dramatic lighting effect is created, which makes the dome seemingly float above what looks like a small traditional Arab town. The Louvre Abu Dhabi achieved a LEED Silver rating in 2018.