Staff Reporter
IM Pei, the world-renowned architect of the prestigious Qatar Islamic Museum, said he has been inspired by the "shadows and shadings" which are ever-existing streaks in Islamic architecture. The museum, off the Doha Corniche, is due to be opened by the end of 2007.
Addressing a press conference, Pei, the 90-year-old American architect of Chinese origin, expressed his satisfaction over the progress as well as the quality of work of the museum saying that he visited the building with the lights on for the first time.
"I came last night and went to see the building with the lights on for the first time. The building is coming up very well. I am very satisfied about the progress and the quality of the work. I wish it could be done sooner. But it is too complicated work."
The renowned architect indicated that his visits to the medieval mosque Ibn Tuloun, which is based in Cairo, has been thought-provoking and provided inspiration for him in his design of the Qatar Islamic museum.
He said he was fascinated by the use of the cubic shapes in the mosque, especially in the way it changed with the sun and gave different reflections.
"The museum is a combination of both the essence of Islamic architecture and some modern techniques. Viewing the museum from the top gives one very Islamic reflections," he said.
Asked if the harsh climatic conditions like humidity and high temperature were taken into consideration while designing the project, he said that he selected a type of natural stone that was very resistant to water, humidity and heat.
"I was very careful about the materials used outside. I opted for natural solid stone. We picked the Shamisen stone from France which is the most suitable stone; it is soft as well as solid," he said while promising the media that they would see a magnificent piece of art when the project is completed.
Pei, who is also the designer of the glass pyramid in the Louvre in Paris, said he noticed during his numerous journeys in the region extending from Spain to India that Islamic architecture was "always animated by the sun and built along the sunbelt".
"I noticed that the sun is always there in Islamic architecture. It is animated by the sun. My design is just a humble interpretation of Islamic architecture," he said, while observing the whole region in which Islamic arts flourished has been overwhelmed by the desert and the sun.
Pei appreciated the support and encouragement he received from HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and HH Sheikha Mozah Nasser al-Misnad.
The meeting, which was held at the Qatar Museums Authority office, was attended by the Qatar Museums Authority’s vice-president Hamad bin Khalifa al-Nasser. |
