Qasr Al Hosn
- Location
- Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Client
- Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority
- Expertise
- Architecture
- Completion
- 2018
Abu Dhabi’s oldest building Qasr Al Hosn underwent ten years of restoration work and is now a museum which sits at the heart of a new regional and cultural quarter.
It comprises two landmark buildings: the Inner Fort which dates back to 1795, and the Outer Palace which was added in 1935. The building was cleverly composed to respond to the harsh desert climate by absorbing the heat of the sun and channelling natural breezes to provide a cool habitable environment. The courtyard has a unique character and serene calm with sensitively landscaped grounds. The restored pavilions and tower house exhibit the evolution of the city with displays of artefacts dating from 6,000 BC.
The building now sits at the heart of a new regional cultural quarter that also includes a cultural foundation building which contains an 800-seat theatre, a national library and an arts exhibition space. Each exhibition space is connected by glass structures, creating a sequence of spaces, alongside a courtyard that has a distinctive aroma from planted date palms that evoke memories of the fort. The project aims to ensure that Qasr Al Hosn is identified as a living memorial that encourages the sharing of cultural traditions and experience, serving as a repository of indigenous artefacts, stories, poetry, music and dance.
