At the National Museum of Qatar,
the Koichi Takada-designed gift shops
(opposite) and hospitality areas – such as
Café 875 (below) – match the exuberance
of Jean Nouvel’s architecture.Mexico City and Daniel Libeskind’s addition
to the Denver Art Museum greatly dimin-
ish the art-viewing experience. But, from the
start, it was decided that the NMoQ interior
should be a succession of screens on which
to project films commissioned to portray
the history, topology and culture of Qatar,
along with the discovery and exploitation of
natural resources. This provides an immersive
experience that complements videotapes of
elderly inhabitants recalling the changes they
have seen. The first exhibit is the fossil of an
armoured fish, dating back 20 million years,
but most of the artefacts date from the past
century, and many were donated by Qataris
who had preserved costumes and carpets,
jewellery and ceramics as family heirlooms.
These are displayed in vitrines.
Few museums can flourish without
cafés and gift shops, and Takada’s designs
for these match the exuberance of Nouvel’s
architecture. He was inspired by the Cave
of Light, a spectacular natural formation at
the heart of the Qatari desert, designing two
gift shops as undulating top-lit grottos, with
stacked timber substituted for the natural
rock. In the larger of the two, the soaring
roof vault seems to spiral up to the sky, while
morphing into shelves and niches for display.
The wood, CNC-milled to create a smooth,
yet tactile surface, is a work of art in itself,
and provides a seductive setting for books
and objects.
One level up is Café 875, which takes
inspiration from rippling sand and the
nomadic life of the Bedouin. Wood palisades
encircle seating areas for families and groups
of friends. Upholstered benches and floor
cushions abstract traditional designs, and
were custom woven by Missoni. For Takada,
the custom of gathering to dine on the floor
recalled his childhood in Japan. Nearing com-
pletion is the fourth-floor Jiwan Restaurant
that takes its cues from sea and desert, and a
second café. In each of these spaces, Takada
has rooted his designs in the traditions of
Qatar while subtly referencing Nouvel’s forms
and sand-toned palette. – MW
jeannouvel.com
koichitakada.comO
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