Designing the Museum of the Future: Dubai's latest architectural marvel

There is literally nothing like Dubai’s Museum of the Future anywhere else in the world. Located right on Sheikh Zayed Road – the city's main highway, this singular building, an asymmetric torus clad in steel and glass, has been recognised by the National Geographic as one of 14 most beautiful museums in the worlds.

What lies beneath the surface, however, may be even more impressive than the museum’s striking exterior.

The architect's vision

The Museum of the Future’s design comes from architect Shaun Killa, a long-time veteran of Dubai’s architecture sector. The museum was his first commission after striking out on his own. According to Killa, the design of the museum aims to represent Dubai’s vision of the future, and consists of three main elements: the hill, the structure, and the void.

“The green hill represents the earth, with solidity, permanence, and rootedness in place, time and history...The glimmering, futuristic upper building represents mankind, with all of its strength, artistry and ability to create in harmony with its surroundings,” Killa’s design agency explains. “Lastly, the elliptical void within the upper structure represents innovation. This is done primarily by creating an empty space showing the unwritten future into which humanity, and the world, can symbolically look towards.”

Combining art and design

What sets the museum apart is the Arabic calligraphy covering the entire surface of the building, which, being made of glass, also functions as its windows. This is made up of lines of poetry written by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, expressing his vision for the city.

The usable space of the museum includes several levels built into the hill, but the star of the show is the main structure. This reaches 78m in height, with seven storeys inside – but no internal pillars whatsoever, something which has been described as an engineering miracle.

This feat is possible thanks to a combination of advanced technology and 3D modelling, and the painstaking efforts of hundreds of engineers, builders and craftspeople from BAM International and BuroHappold, the main contractor and engineering consultants on the project, along with many other suppliers. 

“As much as the building has relied on advanced technology, it is ultimately a man-made construction. An exceptional team has been working around the clock. The façade panels were manufactured robotically; however, men installed them suspended by ropes. Although the interior forms were modelled in 3D, they were then hand plastered by hundreds of workers with great care,” says the Dubai Future Foundation, developer of the Museum of the Future.

Using Building Information Modelling (BIM) tools, the museum’s designers were able to first simplify the building’s shape, and then model the optimal design for its steel superstructure. Within this, factors such as mid-construction stresses and placement of mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems had to be incorporated into the model – making it strikingly complex.

Glimpse into the future

Having the design modelled digitally down to the millimetre level paid off during construction, according to Tobias Bauly, project director for the Museum of the Future at BuroHappold. Both the steel diagrid and the complex façade panels all slotted together without any problems at all, a significant feat for any construction project, let alone one this sophisticated.

The result is a building which embodies not only a vision for the future, but is a physical manifestation of what lies ahead. While all the techniques and technology which have contributed to its construction are of the present, no major project has used all of them together to such an extent, or to such effect.

“Everything we have ever known about doing buildings has changed within the space of this one project, because the project demanded it. Otherwise, we couldn’t have solved the challenges that came as a result of the shape. It has changed how we work and that is great for the industry moving forwards,” Bauly told BBC Future.

The Museum of the Future's exhibits will give visitors glimpses into possible futures through novel experiential attractions. But simply by walking through the building itself, visitors will be a part of things to come.

Timings and tickets to Museum of the Future

The museum is open from 10am to 9:30pm every day, and last entry is at 7:30pm. Tickets cost AED149 and can be booked either through the official website or directly via this link. Entry to Museum of the Future is free for children under three, people of determination plus one caregiver, and Emirati senior citizens.

Tickets are based on timed entry, so you will need to choose your timeslot when booking. Aim to get to the museum 15-30 minutes before your timeslot to collect your tickets; if you arrive late, you won't be able to enter. There are also priority Museum of the Future tickets available, which allow access at any time during operational hours.

Find out more about the city's incredible sights and attractions or take a closer look at the architectural landmarks of Dubai.