A Rose unlike Any Other

The National Museum of Qatar, which opened on March 28, looks like a desert rose.

 

You may think of museums as dusty collections of old objects, but modern museums are different. They are landmarks and showcases of local culture, offering visitors insight (视角) into the past.

The National Museum of Qatar, which opened on March 28, 2019, is the latest example.  

The building’s interlocking structure of steel, glass and fiber concrete makes people think of the petals (花瓣) of a desert rose. These “roses” are actually crystallized (结晶的) sand, found just under the desert’s surface. “It’s surprisingly complex and poetic,” the designer Nouvel told UK-based design magazine Dezeen.

This pioneering design also makes the building energy-efficient. They form a sunscreen and cast (投射) protective shadows when the sun hits the building from east or west. “I want to build a structure that keeps in line with the condition of the place, to ensure that it offers maximum (最大化的) protection from the sun and save energy,” Nouvel said.

Apart from its unique shape, the museum also includes Qatar’s tradition of both nomads (牧民) and fishermen. It’s committed to preserving and showing the wooden dhows that were once Doha’s lifeblood. These boats enabled fishing, trading and the collection of precious pearls. And visitors can see over 1.5 million of them on the hand-embroidered Pearl Carpet of Baroda, the most extravagant (奢侈的) carpet ever, in the museum.

The museum also seeks to redefine（重新定义）the role of cultural institutions. It’s hoped that visitors will not only observe the exhibitions but also immerse (沉浸) themselves in Qatar’s history. For this purpose, it features a multilayered, 360-degree environment. For example, on the path to the gallery of Life in Qatar, viewers see open markets, camels carrying goods, and wealthy pearl traders drinking tea and doing business.

“It creates a dialogue between the past and future,” according to a museum press release. “The scheme will give a voice to Qatar’s heritage (文化遗产) while celebrating its future.”

【小题1】When did the National Museum of Qatar open?
【小题2】What does the National Museum look like?
【小题3】Does the design make the building energy-efficient?
【小题4】Apart from its unique shape, what other features does the museum have?
【小题5】What does the writer think of the museum?