The Museum of Islamic Art: Form, perception, and environment

Abstract

Islamic Arab societies have a distinctive but culturally common system of beliefs, attitudes, and values that over time have formed traditional expression. These traditions have been articulated through art, architecture, community designs, social institutions, and conventional behavior; all of which form spatial patterns. Knowledge regarding Islamic and Arab architecture is in hand through numerous publications. Recently, in Arab Gulf countries, the conservation of local identity has become the center of attention. Their attempts have been specifically demonstrated through the conversion of significant historical buildings into museums or applying neovernacular architectural styles in newly built museums. One might question their utilization as specifically museums. Museums symbolize cultural values, wealth, global status, and a center attraction. Contemporary architecture of the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar is a conspicuous example that is going to be the focus of this research. Even though the building was designed by I.M. Pei, a well-known architect who is foreign to Islamic design principles and to Qatari local architecture, it is one of the most protuberant landmarks in the city and one of the emblematical icons of neo-vernacular Qatari architecture that catalyzes urban rejuvenation. By studying the key to success of the architecture of the Museum of Islamic Art, this research suggests an approach for the analysis of museum study.