Falling in Louvre

The Louvre Abu Dhabi is scheduled to open in 2017

The stunning design by French architect Jean Nouvel features a multi-layer, perforated aluminum dome shading galleries, restaurants and open spaces. Evoking typical palm frond roofs of the region, the dome spatters light across the covered area, creating warmer and cooler zones. Reduced-flow plumbing saves on water, while seawater channels wend through the interior for additional cooling. Traditional steel rebar in the ultrahigh-performance concrete cladding panels has been replaced by glass fibers. Reduced panel shrinkage and porosity add durability to the walls, many of which stand directly in the sea surrounding the island site.