Museum of the Future – Inside Dubai’s Newest Architectural Wonder

A new institution has recently joined the global art map’s constellation of museums, galleries, and independent art centers. Just a few months ago, Shaun Killa’s building, dubbed a technological and architectural marvel, opened in Dubai, housing the world’s first Museum of the Future.

Its simple but imposing oval structure will serve as a showcase for both local and global talents, scientific thinking, and ideas and technologies that have the potential to change the world and people’s lives. On February 22nd, 2022, the museum opened with a performance by Richard Browning, the so-called real-life Iron Man, who displayed a repertoire of aerial stunts in his gravity-defying Jet Suit.

The museum intends to bring together thinkers from all over the world and highlight outstanding technological and scientific achievements that will shape the future.

A Significant New Landmark

The museum’s structure is oval in shape with a hollow middle, resembling the shape of a human eye and symbolically representing a look into the future. It is already regarded as the world’s most creative architectural structure, standing 77 meters tall and covering 30,000 square meters, with a stainless-steel facade illuminated by 14,000 meters of Arabic calligraphy. The text is made up of quotes from the ruler, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and was designed by Emirati artist Mattar bin Lahej. This is the only building in the world with an entirely calligraphy-covered surface.

Inside, there are seven floors with no internal pillars, making it an engineering marvel. It is also a sustainable model because the entire surface of the building is made of glass developed with cutting-edge technologies that provide improved thermal quality of interior and exterior isolation. The stainless-steel panels on the façade were created using robotic arms that were automated.

The Museum of the Future, in addition to being a feat of engineering and architectural ingenuity, also pays homage to our digital technology. Its facade is made up of exactly 1024 panels, each representing a kilobyte, the basic unit of digital information storage. Each kilobyte is made up of 1024 bytes, or symbols and characters.

The museum is located on a vast green plateau, which is actually a lush green garden with around 100 species of trees and plants that reflect the UAE’s natural diversity and heritage. The garden includes palm and acacia trees, ghaf, and sidr trees that have been adapted to local conditions and are irrigated by a smart, automated system that benefits local bee and bird populations. It employs a subsurface mat that directs water to the root system, with the plateau’s steep slopes allowing for quick water flow and eliminating the need for pumps. Furthermore, water collection and recycling systems help to reduce water waste.

The Message

The museum aspires to be the regional leader in the science and knowledge movement, bringing together great Arab and international minds. The museum’s central message is one of cooperation and exchange in shaping a better future for humanity. The programming will investigate and forecast future changes in science, economics, human development, and other fields.

In addition, the museum will host events and programs that demonstrate active human imagination, innovation, and creativity. It will strive to improve human research, findings, and discoveries by constantly updating content and exhibits. The museum seeks to gather talents and geniuses to work in a comprehensive lab for future ideas, technologies, and cities as a hub for global visionaries.

Innovative Technologies

The museum employs cutting-edge research technologies such as big data analysis, artificial intelligence, human-machine interaction, and virtual and augmented reality. Visitors will be able to experience technological advancements through programs that address issues concerning the future of humans, societies, life in outer space, and cities.

The museum will include a special platform for displaying and testing the innovations of leading technology companies, as well as a space for collaboration with research institutes and major universities.

The journey of each visitor will begin in the depths of our solar system, with the presentation of the inspiring Emirates Mars Mission project, which saw Hope and Probe successfully enter orbit. Instead of displaying artifacts from the past, as traditional museum institutions do, the Museum of the Future uses new technologies to create a portal to the future.

Museum of the Future

The Museum of the Future is a new global landmark from Dubai and the United Arab Emirates. It is a one-of-a-kind platform for studying the future, developing new ideas, and engaging in discussions about pressing future topics such as trends and all scientific, humanitarian, and development sectors.

A permanent exhibition that serves as the museum’s first point of reference for every visitor and aims to showcase various aspects of the future and significant technologies to come. Presentations on the planet Earth, the future of healing, bioengineering technology, and sustainability are among those on the agenda. A section of the presentation also emphasizes the UAE’s goal of becoming climate neutral by 2050.

The museum is already considered one of the most creative buildings in the world due to its unique architecture, design, and features. Its captivating nature is enhanced by the ‘living’ component, which aims to actively contribute to a profound intellectual movement worldwide. In addition, the museum serves as a testing ground for future generations. They are given the freedom to develop novel solutions to improve humanity and address current and future challenges. The programming also includes a special, dedicated experience that encourages children’s inquisitive nature in an open-world setting.

The structure represents the revival of Arab excellence in research, mathematics, and science, as well as the celebration of past Arab intellectuals. The calligraphy on the façade consists of three quotes that represent the museum’s philosophical vision as a knowledge edifice. One of them states:

“The future belongs to those who can imagine it, design it, and execute it. It isn’t something you await, but rather create.”