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28 March 2024

Louvre Abu Dhabi a 'Museum on Sea'

Photo: Wam

Published
By Wam

The Tourism Development and Investment Company, TDIC, the master developer of major tourism, cultural and residential destinations in Abu Dhabi, announced today that the process of removing the temporary sea protection walls, used during the main construction phase, and the integration of the sea with the Louvre Abu Dhabi museum project, has begun.

This significant milestone is a key step towards realising the vision for this world-class cultural institution, by its famous architect Jean Nouvel, as a ‘museum city on the sea'.
 
The process is taking place in three stages within the temporary earth platform, an area of reclaimed land sitting four meters above sea level, from which all the construction work to date has been built. At the start of the project, a continuous hydraulic cut off wall was constructed and pumps were installed to remove the water and allow excavation, piling, and subsequent works to be undertaken in dry conditions.
 
Ali Majed Al Mansoori, Chairman of the Board at TDIC, said, "This is a great milestone in the development of Louvre Abu Dhabi. This delicate process is the result of months of planning and preparation to ensure that the inflow of sea water takes place in a controlled manner around and within strategic places in the museum. We are confident that once it is concluded, future visitors to Saadiyat island will be able to see the beauty of Louvre Abu Dhabi and experience first-hand how the vision for this project has been turned into reality."
 
The first stage of integrating the sea with the site involved the shutdown of selected pumps to allow the water level to rise slowly around the museum’s basements located below seabed level. During this process, the various shallow tidal pools which surround the Louvre Abu Dhabi were filled with sea water.
 
The second stage has also been completed, where the remaining pumps were shut down and sea water was pumped inside the temporary hydraulic cut off wall. Continual inspections were carried out to ensure that no evidence of water ingress was detected within the basement structure, which is protected by a sophisticated re-injectable double membrane waterproof system.
 
The third and final stage, which commenced this month, involves further pumping of sea water within the temporary walls and around the Louvre Abu Dhabi, raising the water level to match the sea level. This will be followed by the removal of the hydraulic cut off wall and the final construction of permanent marine sea defences which will complete the full integration of the sea with the Louvre Abu Dhabi.
 
Throughout its construction, Louvre Abu Dhabi has achieved remarkable milestones. To date, the project has witnessed the completion of the museum’s 180 metre-diameter dome, which is made up of four outer stainless steel layers and four inner layers, supported by a steel structure five meters in height, as well as the installation work of 30,000 square metres of natural stone paving and the completion of its basement levels. Advanced work is currently underway on the main gallery spaces, entrance and administration buildings.
 
Louvre Abu Dhabi is part of the Saadiyat Cultural District and will become home to two more cultural institutions, Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. The Cultural District today features leading educational, retail and residential developments, among them Cranleigh Abu Dhabi, the leading British curriculum school, and Mamsha Al Saadiyat, a vibrant mixed-used beachfront residential community which is currently under construction.