Abu Dhabi - This significant milestone is a key step towards realising the vision for this world-class cultural institution, by its famous architect Jean Nouvel, as a 'museum city on the sea'.
Published: Wed 15 Jun 2016, 2:39 PM
Last updated: Wed 15 Jun 2016, 9:11 PM
Abu Dhabi’s upcoming Louvre Museum has been surrounded by sea water as the sea protection walls installed during the main construction phase have been removed, in what the Tourism Development and Investment Company is calling a “significant milestone” in the construction of the ambitious cultural institution.
The process is taking place in three stages within the temporary earth platform, an area of reclaimed land sitting four meters above sea level, from which all the construction work to date has been built. At the start of the project, a continuous hydraulic cut off wall was constructed and pumps were installed to remove the water and allow excavation, piling and subsequent works to be undertaken in dry conditions.
“This is a great milestone in the development of Louvre Abu Dhabi. This delicate process is the result of months of planning and preparation to ensure that the inflow of sea water takes place in a controlled manner around and within strategic places in the museum,” said Ali Majed Al Mansoori, Chairman of the Board at TDIC. “We are confident that once it is concluded future visitors to Saadiyat island will be able to see the beauty of Louvre Abu Dhabi and experience first-hand how the vision for this project has been turned into reality.”
The first stage of integrating the sea with the site involved the shutdown of selected pumps to allow the water level to rise slowly around the museum’s basements located below seabed level. During this process, the various shallow tidal pools which surround the Louvre Abu Dhabi were filled with sea water.
Image courtesy: TDIC/Twitter
The second stage has also been completed, in which the remaining pumps were shut down and sea water was pumped inside the temporary hydraulic cut off wall. Inspections were carried out to ensure that no evidence of water ingress was detected within the basement structure, which is protected by a re-injectable double membrane waterproof system.
The third and final stage, which commenced this month, involves pumping out more sea water within the temporary walls and around the Louvre Abu Dhabi, which will raise the water level to match that of the sea. After this step, the hydraulic cut off wall and construction of permanent sea defences will be complete, completely the museum’s integration with the sea.
The Louvre Abu Dhabi is part of the the Saadiyat Cultural District, which will also house the Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com
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