• Some 220 years younger, the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation is in a different situation: commissioned in 1974 as the home of the first national library, theatre and community and arts centre, its significance is only just starting to be understood. Courtesy ARCADD, Inc / Hisham Ashkouri Architects
    Some 220 years younger, the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation is in a different situation: commissioned in 1974 as the home of the first national library, theatre and community and arts centre, its significance is only just starting to be understood. Courtesy ARCADD, Inc / Hisham Ashkouri Architects
  • “We need to understand the values that this building has,” Amel Chabbi, a building conservator with TCA, explains. “We’re looking at its historical, political and symbolic significance and we’re making social, architectural and technological comparisons to understand its influence locally, regionally and internationally.” Christopher Pike / The National
    “We need to understand the values that this building has,” Amel Chabbi, a building conservator with TCA, explains. “We’re looking at its historical, political and symbolic significance and we’re making social, architectural and technological comparisons to understand its influence locally, regionally and internationally.” Christopher Pike / The National
  • The conservation-management plan may still be a work in ­progress but a 3-D laser scan has been made of the building’s interior to record its condition while providing a baseline prior to future conservation work. Christopher Pike / The National
    The conservation-management plan may still be a work in ­progress but a 3-D laser scan has been made of the building’s interior to record its condition while providing a baseline prior to future conservation work. Christopher Pike / The National
  • TCA have reinstated the visual link between the Cultural Foundation and Qasr Al Hosn that was such an important part of TAC’s original design and, in doing so, they have recreated a framed view of the palace that has been lost for more than 20 years. Christopher Pike / The National
    TCA have reinstated the visual link between the Cultural Foundation and Qasr Al Hosn that was such an important part of TAC’s original design and, in doing so, they have recreated a framed view of the palace that has been lost for more than 20 years. Christopher Pike / The National
  • Mark Kyffin, TCA’s head of architecture, describes the Qasr Al Hosn Festival as “a spotlight” on the conservation work but that focus will return later this year with TCA’s announcement of a new design for the area between the Cultural Foundation and the fort. Christopher Pike / The National
    Mark Kyffin, TCA’s head of architecture, describes the Qasr Al Hosn Festival as “a spotlight” on the conservation work but that focus will return later this year with TCA’s announcement of a new design for the area between the Cultural Foundation and the fort. Christopher Pike / The National
  • “This site shows the development of Abu Dhabi from tradition to modernity on a single city block,” Kyffin explains. “We have one of the nation’s most significant examples of modern heritage on a site that has the nation’s most significant historic building.” Christopher Pike / The National
    “This site shows the development of Abu Dhabi from tradition to modernity on a single city block,” Kyffin explains. “We have one of the nation’s most significant examples of modern heritage on a site that has the nation’s most significant historic building.” Christopher Pike / The National

Abu Dhabi’s Cultural Foundation through the years – in pictures

James Ohara

February 12, 2015

  • English
  • Arabic

For the duration of this year’s Qasr Al Hosn Festival, the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation will be open to the public for only the second time since 2009 when the building was closed and earmarked for demolition. Words by Nick Leech.

HistoryAbu DhabiUAE