Opened on 22 February, it is among the most beautiful buildings in the world and is a marvel of architecture, technological innovation and sustainability
The Museum of the Future (MOTF), created by architect Shaun Killa (Killa Design Architects) and the Dubai Future Foundation, is set to be one of the most iconic buildings in the city and, indeed, the world. It is intended as a gateway to the world as envisaged fifty years from now and aims to contribute to the betterment of humanity and the strengthening of the global economy by demonstrating the capabilities of the coming generation to improve our lives with technologies such as artificial intelligence, augmented reality and advanced technologies yet to be revealed.
Even in the most modern city in the world, the museum stands out as a marvel of contemporary architecture with its ring-shaped, more precisely, asymmetrical toroid structure. It stands 77 metres high and has a total surface area of 30,548 m2 without any internal columns.
Its facade, made of stainless steel and state-of-the-art glass, is the work of artist Mattar bin Lahej and is decorated with Arabic Thuluth calligraphy (letters that act as windows) illuminated by 14,000 metres of lights. It depicts lines of poetry written by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). One of them reads; “The future belongs to those who can imagine it, design it and execute it. It is not something you wait for, but something you create.”
According to architect Shaun Killa, everything in the museum’s design exudes symbolism. The green hill on which it rests represents the earth, solid, permanent and rooted in place, time and history. The upper building, resplendent and futuristic, represents humanity in all its strength, its art and its ability to create in harmony with the environment. The elliptical void inside represents the innovation of the future yet to be written.
The MOTF is also a benchmark for sustainability. It employs passive solar technology and uses low water and energy consumption solutions. It will be one of the first buildings of its kind in the Middle East to receive LEED Platinum certification.
