Falcon-Inspired Museum

Foster + Partners recently unveiled this design for a museum on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi. Named after UAE founder Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Zayed National Museum will be dedicated to the history and culture of the country.

Because of the Sheikh's love of falconry, the museum will feature five lightweight steel towers resembling birds’ wings. This theme is further celebrated by a gallery devoted to the subject, along with an outdoor arena for live displays with hunting birds.

Located within a man-made, landscaped mound, the galleries are anchored by a dramatic top-lit central lobby, which brings together shops, cafes, an auditorium and informal venues for performances of poetry and dance.