Although much smaller than most of its neighbors in the Persian Gulf, Qatar has not missed the opportunity to project itself to the world through monumental architecture. Beyond the spectacular soccer stadiums built for the 2022 World Cup, the truth is that the skyline of its young capital, Doha, is dotted with buildings that seem to compete in originality, most of them designed by internationally renowned architects.
The Doha Tower and the National Museum of Qatar – inspired by a desert rose – both works by Jean Nouvel, the French Pritzker; Tornado Tower, also known as QIPCO Tower; the national mosque, the only one on the planet that has two minarets, by Mangera Yvars Architects; Katara Towers, which houses two luxury hotels; The Torch, the Olympic torch converted into a hotel, or the national library, a hyper-technological center created by Rem Koolhaas are some of the most famous exponents. However, the list would be incomplete if we did not add one more pearl: the Museum of Islamic Art.
The MIA (Museum of Islamic Art) is a spectacular limestone building signed by an equally renowned architect: Ieoh Ming Pei. Behind this American of Chinese origin, winner of the prestigious Pritzker, are designs as emblematic as the pyramid of the Louvre Museum in Paris. A tireless worker, he saw the Doha museum inaugurated when he was ninety years old.
Built on an artificial island, next to the Corniche, a promenade of more than seven kilometers along the central sea of ??Doha, the Museum of Islamic Art, surrounded by extensive green areas, shines from a distance. Before its projection and as a source of inspiration, Ieoh Ming Pei made a pilgrimage for months through some of the great masterpieces of Islamic architecture, until he found in the Sabil, the ablution fountain of the mosque of Ahmad Ibn Tulun in Cairo, what that I was looking for.
From here, he created a design in which he fused traditional Islamic motifs – such as domes, geometric motifs, arches or water elements – with modern architecture, resulting in the emblematic museum. The building occupies a total area that exceeds 35,000 m2 and has two patios with fountains from where it is possible to enjoy a unique view of the surroundings.
The facilities house a collection that is not very extensive, although it is very valuable. Among the most notable pieces is the manuscript Shahnameh or Book of Kings, written a thousand years ago by the Arab poet Ferdowsi, which tells the stories and myths of the great pre-Islamic Persian empire. Other wonders of the museum are the planispheric astrolabe, one of the world’s first navigation tools, made in 10th century Iraq, or the carved emerald plate from the 16th century. This piece, owned by the Indian Mugal emperors, is characterized by having Arabic text on one side and a floral motif on the other.
Museum visitors have one last surprise in store. Located on the fifth floor is Idam, a restaurant by Alain Ducasse. With a privileged view of the capital’s skyline, the chef with the most Michelin stars in the world – he has a total of 21 – offers a fusion proposal between French haute cuisine with Mediterranean touches and the flavors of the area’s typical gastronomy.
The establishment, designed by Philippe Starck, creates an elegant and modern atmosphere with Arabic touches, not without fantasy, in which for a decade it has surprised diners through its large windows. An ideal corner in which to savor one of the best culinary offerings in Doha.
