The Design of the Museum of Islamic Art Essay

My chosen piece of art is the architectural drawing of the Museum of Islamic Art, Doha done by I.M. Pei. It is such a beautiful piece of artwork and in part is born out of the history of the Arab world's vision of how buildings and mosques have been designed for centuries. It has a modest structure, but as people who have visited it would say, it is deceiving. With its simple outer form comes a complex inner space which amazes each that has paid a visit to the museum. The different feature that the museum retains leaves Qatar's residents and tourists wondering how everything has been put together without skipping any detail out of the picture. The concept of the design of the Museum of Islamic Art, Doha was produced through the combination of the architect's style and the artworks that the museum contains. The museum that has become the home for Islamic Art was built in the heart of Doha's Cornice is the most eye-catching structure among all of the buildings in the downtown core of Doha.

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I.M. Pei's style has an impact on the final design of the Museum of Islamic Arts in Doha. One of his approaches that were integrated into the museum's composition is its geometric structure. He was keen on including geometric structures because of their spatial areas and acceptance of natural light. Most of Pei's works have sharp corners and defined forms. However, as mentioned by Mohamed, Pei is not restricted by any sorts of ideas even if his works are based on geometry. As a result, his compositions, consisting of geometric shapes, are arranged into figures that represent the architecture's purpose. This aspect is apparent in the museum's form as it is organized in a way that will allow it to signify its contents and achieve the tonal differences that Pei wanted to illustrate.

Another characteristic that was incorporated into the museum was Pei's play with the shades on the structure. The majority of his designs include a range of lightings that creates dramatic shadows and distinguishes the structure's shape. It is although he took a page from the works of Gaudi who enjoyed showing the use of natural light and the contrast of light and shade when creating his architecture. These purposes of the light sources are clear on the museum. The Islamic Museum's geometric front is illuminated, forming an intense, spirited silhouette.

Pei's desire to provide ample space in his works has also been infused into the museum's form. This situation can be seen as you walk through each room containing some of the finest and most expensive works of art found anywhere in the world. It is crucial, in his point of view, that each section has enough space for the artworks to be displayed and observed. It is because these works are individuals who represent its' origins and its' artists. Mohamed stated that the alluring space that Pei has created made arts' exclusive fortresses an interesting terminus for the society. Through this, the pieces are seen as a source of the idea for the concept of the museum's final form.

The pieces were considered as inspirations during the museum's designing process. One of the works' aspects that were considered was its' appearance. I.M. Pei, the architect, aspired to take the features of the artworks as part of his vision to create a connection between the contents and the museum. According to Mohamed, the Islamic art across the globe is known for its vivaciousness, intricacy, and variety, which are echoed through the museum. A sense of life is realized through the different area where shadows enfold the architecture. In addition to this, the detailed interior of each section for the artifacts is very diverse, reflecting its contents. Through this, the aim of the architect seems to have been achieved.

The last facet that had an impact to the museum's ultimate design was the architectures in the Islamic world. They were fascinating designs crafted by insightful builders. Although it is not directly connected to the artworks, the museum itself will be an Islamic architecture. Therefore, considering these architectures will link the pieces, the museum and Islamic world together. Pei, however, had a difficult journey because he was not satisfied with the structures that he has seen during his travels. This decision was not made until he visited Cairo where Pei. The mosque conveys the essence which is seen throughout the Islamic arts over the world. Life is regarded as the most significant feature of each work because simple objects are transformed into a lively form through laying details on them. Pei decided to replicate the dome from the said mosque to show that the familiar geometric shape can be given vivacity through the use of light and sensation of depth. This design is achieved through the arrangement of triangular elements within the dome's structure.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the concept of architecture's design was a compilation of fragments derived from different sources. Also, the life presented through the lightings to the application of detail to ordinary forms, in both the structure and its contents make everything fuse together. This connection between the museum and the artworks that is unknown to the people will continue to lead into questions on how each aspect of the structure has synchronized with each other.

The piece of art is the architectural drawing of the Museum of Islamic Art, Doha done by I.M. Pei. It has a simple outer form that comes with a complex inner space. I.M. Pei's style has an impact on the final design of the Museum of Islamic Arts in Doha. He was keen on including geometric structures because of their spatial areas and acceptance of natural light. The piece of art was made in 2006 by I.M. Pei before the commencement of construction later the same year by a Turkish company. Most of Pei's works have sharp corners and defined forms. However, Pei is not restricted by any sorts of ideas even if his works are based on geometry. It is such a beautiful piece of artwork and in part is born out of the history of the Arab world's vision of how buildings and mosques have been designed for centuries. Its uniqueness makes it relevant to included in the Mohammed Bin Jassim museum.

Bibliography

Jodidio, P., & Strong, J. I.M. Pei: Complete Works. New York: Rizzoli, 2008

Mohamed, Y. "The new museum of Islamic art in Doha, Qatar." Islam and Civilisational Renewal, vol. 1, no 1 (2009): 181-183.

Ruder, Finn. "Museum of Islamic Art, Doha by I. M. Pei: The Museum of Islamic Art, a new cultural icon for the Gulf region." Design Magazine For The Middle East And North Africa. 2010. From: http://desmena.com/2010/07/museum-of-islamic-art-doha-by-i-m-pei/