Islamic art – Arty Archy

Last summer, I was lucky enough to be offered a placement at an architectural consultants firm in Qatar. This gave me the opportunity to explore museums, libraries and civil infrastructure built at an almost ludicrous scales. The MIA still remains the most impressive and interesting building I was able to explore.

*Exterior view of the MIA, illustrating the scale of the building over the waterfront.*

Located in Doha, along the Corniche waterfront, the Museum of Islamic art acts as a foundation for the flourishing cultural scene of the city. Historically, Qatar was a country of Nomadic people, with a strong relationship to Islam and a reliance on the coastline for sustenance. The surge in economic growth of the country has allowed the modern built environment to expand greatly, arguably at the cost of historically significant Islamic architecture. Therefore, the MIA (Museum of Islamic Art) takes on the role of preserving and cultivating Islamic Art, allowing the people to gain further understanding and appreciation of the relationship between art and Islamic architecture.

Within a few hours, the exterior of the building had taken on a completely different hue.

Designed by I.M. Pei, the first thing about the MIA that struck me was the sheer scale. The structure stretches out over the water, commanding the attention of the observer. The building is constructed from limestone, this allows the hourly changes in light and shade to be captured by the buildings exterior. Most significantly though, the museum seemed to draw influence from traditional Islamic architecture with the domed roof, pillars and arches reminiscent of famous Mosques.

Interior courtyard, depicting elements of traditional Islamic Architecture in the grand arches. The limestone is shown capturing the changes in light and shade.

The interior of the MIA reflects the same impressive scale of the exterior, adorned with the geometric patterns of Islamic art, making for a humbling experience. The art on display was as varied as it was fascinating, ranging from weapons and armour from centuries of war in the middle east to tapestries, paintings and technology depicting the giant leaps forward in human culture achieved by Islamic architects, scholars and inventors. The interior rooms used a variety of textures and materials, including wood, stone and glass to create a unique environment allowing the observer to focus on the art on display.