On an island off the coast of Abu Dhabi and taking inspiration from sky, sea, and desert, the project is conceived as a contemporary medina for the display and discussion of art, and takes the form of a horizonal museum filled with light and shadow and tempered by the cooling effects of water. Containing 26 galleries that provide 8,600 m2 of exhibition space, the 55 interconnected low-rise buildings are built of fibre-reinforced-concrete structural panels, surmounted by a vast dome comprising eight steel-structure layers to filter and create a "rain of light"; the dome is supported on only four pillars concealed within the buildings. Additionally, the complex is technologically advanced for the display and conservation of fine arts.

Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture