Museum of Islamic Art Doha (MIA)
"This was one of the most difficult jobs I ever undertook", says Ieoh Ming Pei, architect of the MIA, "It seemed to me that I had to grasp the essence of Islamic architecture. The difficulty of my task was that Islamic culture is so diverse, ranging form Iberia to Mughal India, to the gates of China and beyond." Finding its primary inspiration in the ablutions fountain (sabil) in the Mosque of Ahmed Ibn Tulun in Cairo, the building reflects an almost cubist geometric expression, with its true splendour unveiled in the sunlight. Surrounded by a 20-hectare park, the building covers an area of 35,500 square meters.
credit: Lammerhuber
Museum of Islamic Art Doha (MIA)
"This was one of the most difficult jobs I ever undertook", says Ieoh Ming Pei, architect of the MIA, "It seemed to me that I had to grasp the essence of Islamic architecture. The difficulty of my task was that Islamic culture is so diverse, ranging form Iberia to Mughal India, to the gates of China and beyond." Finding its primary inspiration in the ablutions fountain (sabil) in the Mosque of Ahmed Ibn Tulun in Cairo, the building reflects an almost cubist geometric expression, with its true splendour unveiled in the sunlight. Surrounded by a 20-hectare park, the building covers an area of 35,500 square meters.
credit: Lammerhuber