Hadid, Gehry, Nouvel and Ando plan district of theatres and museums in Arab emirate

Four of the world鈥檚 best known architects 鈥� the UK鈥檚 Zaha Hadid, the US鈥� Frank Gehry, France鈥檚 Jean Nouvel and Japan鈥檚 Tadao Ando 鈥� have unveiled designs for a cultural district in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahayan intends the district, on Abu Dhabi鈥檚 Saadiyat Island, to raise the emirate鈥檚 status above that of neighbouring Dubai.

Hadid鈥檚 performing arts centre is inspired by plant forms and will seat a total of 6,300 people. Hadid said: 鈥淎s it winds through the site, the architecture increases in complexity, building up height and depth.鈥�

Gehry鈥檚 contemporary art museum is a frenetic cluster of irregular shapes in which four storeys of galleries are encircled by two rings of lower galleries.

Ando鈥檚 maritime museum will include a reflective surface and a ship-like interior.

Nouvel will house a classical museum beneath a translucent dome interlaced with light-diffusing patterns.

Hadid and Gehry鈥檚 buildings will be developed by the US鈥� Guggenheim Foundation.

Postscript

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