As host to the prestigious Fashion Trust Arabia, and very soon the World Cup, Qatar has slowly been making its mark on a global scale. Their mission seems to have only grown bigger. The country is set to build three new museums in Doha.
The announcement came during the 2022 Doha Forum held on March 27, with Shikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who is the chairperson of Qatar Museums, sharing the news. The move comes as part of a larger effort by the Gulf nation to expand its cultural sector.
“I am here today not only as a contributor to developing Qatar’s cultural institutions but as someone who is dedicated to helping my country realize its ambitious National Vision, so we can build the Qatar we want for our children and our citizens,” said Shaikha Al Mayassa at the forum.
The new museums will each be designed by a Pritzker Prize-winning architect. The museums are set to house modern, contemporary art, Oriental art and cars. Architect Alejandro Aravena of Elemental will design Art Mill, which will be built on a historic flour mill and become home to multiple galleries for contemporary art, as well as spaces for art residency programs. The space will also include a village production facility, gardens and the Dhow Centre.
Architect Jacques Herzog of Herzog & de Meuron will design the Lusail Museum, which is set to be home to an expansive collection of Orientalist art, spanning 52,000 square meters. And the third museum, Qatar Auto Museum will be designed by architect Rem Koolhaas of OMA. The museum will span across 40,000 square meters of gallery space that will trail the history of the automotive industry.
