Museum of the Future Architecture & Design | Construction, Architect & More

The construction of the museum was based on a vision to create a building that symbolizes the client's perception of the future, where each floor, as well as the place as a whole, represents the world 5 to 10 years from now as well as we know it now.

The main challenge faced by the builders was the building’s unique shape as well as translating the symbolic concepts that had to be incorporated in the building of around 30,000 sq m. The stainless steel facade, the client’s requirement to get the LEED status, etc, was also a challenge.

The specialist engineers in the team created in-house parametric tools to create the museum's structure. This solution proved valuable as it helped the team to install fiberglass-reinforced polymer (GFRP) and stainless steel.

The museum is proudly standing on a green-lawn-like hilly structure. The greenery represents the earth. It also hoists the building that smoothly looms over the busy metro system and creates a nature-friendly elevation, which is not so popular in the city.

The main attraction of MOTF is its unique shape. While designers call it Torus, you can relate it to an eye or ellipse. The void in the structure represents the future, and the solid part is the knowledge we have.

The construction challenge was a challenge owing to the shape, and engineers used the latest 4D BIM algorithms to make it happen. The building has LEED Platinum status, a title given to a building that is efficiently built.

The design of the museum, as well as the exhibits in the building, emphasizes sustainability. The structure of the building is created using more than 1000 glass-reinforced panels, which improves external thermal insulation and the lighting inside. Besides, the building has a LEED platinum rating and is equipped with regenerative drive lifts, greywater recycling systems, etc and the power is sourced from the photovoltaic solar arrays kept outside the building. The museum also addresses the effects of global warming through its exhibitions and has floors dedicated to climate change, species extinction, and more.

The Arabic calligraphy that adorns the facade of the building is a visual treat. It also enhances the overall design structure and the interiors as it acts as a window through which the sunlight enters the building. The calligraphy reads three quotes taken from the poems written by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai. The meaning of these quotes are as follows: “We may not live for hundreds of years, but the products of our creativity can leave a legacy long after we are gone.” “The future belongs to those who can imagine it, design it, and execute it.” “The future does not wait. The future can be designed and built today.”

The building has a unique shape and a complex exterior. The torus shape of the museum is inspired by Chinese feng shui. The façade of the building is built using stainless steel and glass-reinforced panels. These 1,024 panels were created using robotic assistance, and each of these panels is different due to the shape of the facade. For this, the engineers had to propose in-house parametric to produce these panels individually.