THURSDAY 9 MAY 2013 • [email protected] • www.thepeninsulaqatar.com • 4455 7741 inside MARKETPLACE Ang Lee: • Lifestyle Restaurants Group to open two new eateries: My family values Nino and Baba Chapatea P | 6 P | 8-9 HEALTH • Fluids may prevent constipation better than fibre P | 7 WHEELS • All-new Cadillac XTS unveiled in Qatar • 2013 Honda Civic gets more sporty P | 10 BOOKS • Writing is like going to dark place: Murakami P | 11 TECHNOLOGY • Looking for a comeback, Zynga CREATING ART embraces FarmVille P | 12 IN CONCRETE LEARN ARABIC • Learn commonly World-renowned architect Jean Nouvel, who used Arabic words is the designer of National Museum of Qatar, and their meanings shares his views on architecture and his works. P | 13 2 PLUS | THURSDAY 9 MAY 2013 COVER STORY Nouvel’s inspiration for the National Museum came from the crystallization of sand which takes place in the desert. What inspires a master designer? By Isabel Ovalle ean Nouvel, the rock star of architecture and author of local landmarks such as Doha Tower and the upcoming National Museum of Qatar, was in Qatar this week and Jtook part in a lively and well-attended discussion at the Museum of Islamic Art. In the packed courtyard of MIA, the renowned architect shared his views on architecture and his works, in response to questions from Todd Reisz, also an architect and profes- sor, and the audience. The event was organised by the Doha Architecture Forum, an informal association of the local design community. Jean Nouvel has been heading his own architecture firm for more than 35 years. Among his principal creations are the Arab World Institute building in Paris, the Lyon Opera House, the Cartier Foundation in Paris and the extension to the Queen Sofia museum in Madrid. The French designer talked about Doha Tower, which, he said, was not similar to Barcelona’s Agbar Tower, also designed by him. “The shape imitates that of rocks modelled by the wind. I decided to play with that shape here too, and people thought I was obsessed,” he joked. “A tower is not something which can easily be drawn, and the climate is what differentiates one from another. In Doha’s West Bay it’s directly on the ground in an excellent landscape,” he added, acknowledging that “it’s strange that it’s empty, but is very beautiful even empty.” About his other great project in Qatar, the National Museum, he said that his inspiration came from the crystal- lization of sand which takes place in the desert. Given that the new construction will have to adapt to the existing buildings, Nouvel was keen on playing with the soul of the old structure and redefining the nature and spirit of the site. His goal while working on the project was also to create a museum which would surprise the visitor. “I wanted a museum which would talk about the desert and the sea and the new global situation of Qatar,” said the architect. “I want the visitor to discover new things as he walks through the museum, like when a stream winds through the mountains. I hope the museum will make Qatari people proud while showing the strength of the nation,” he added. For the architect, this project is only the beginning. “I trust people will want to go to the museum and decide to learn more about Qatar,” he said. PLUS | THURSDAY 9 MAY 2013 3 National Museum of Qatar The National Museum of Qatar opened in 1975 in a restored palace originally built in the early 20th Tcentury by Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani. It served as his family residence and the seat of govern- ment for approximately 25 years. In addition to the original Amiri Palace, the former Qatar National Museum included a Museum of the State, a lagoon and a popular marine aquarium. In 1980, the building won the Agha Khan award for restoration and rehabilitation of Islamic architecture. This monument to Qatar’s past is now preserved as the heart of the new National Museum of Qatar. The new museum’s innovative design, created by Jean Nouvel, is inspired by the desert sand rose and grows organically around the former palace. The museum, off Doha’s Corniche, rises from the sea and is connected to the shore by two pedestrian bridges and a vehicular bridge. A C-shaped peninsula and park area on the shoreline behind the museum offer a pictur- esque backdrop. Located on a 1.5 million-square-foot site at the south end of the Corniche, where it will be the first monument seen by people arriving from the airport, the building takes the form of a ring of low-lying, interlocking pavil- For Nouvel, Doha’s fast develop- ions which encircle a large courtyard and encompass ment was “impossible to imagine”, 430,000 square feet of indoor space. In its organisa- and it showed that the city was tion, the building suggests the image of a caravanserai, “full of energy,” said the architect. the traditional enclosed resting place that supported the He noted that just 50 years ago, flow of commerce, information and people across desert Qatar’s capital was basically a vil- trade routes. lage, and in the last few decades The Peninsula it had undergone “total muta- tion -- the result of spontaneous development.” The architect addressed the issue of political influence in his line of work. “We have to play permanently with power, but we always have a choice. In my case, I always try to work where I think I’m useful,” he said. Sustainability is always reflected in his designs: “its common sense,” he said. However, it is always linked to the cost: “It has to be considered as part of the total price, but in five or ten years the cost is amortized, that’s why I always try to imagine buildings in the future.” He stressed that while he very much had in mind the combina- tion of simple and strong, the “poor palace” feature, he did not design the new structure of the museum with the future collection in mind. “It was an invention, something dynamic and a result of a concen- tration of energy,” he concluded. Nouvel has won many awards for his works, including the Aga Khan Award for the Arab World Institute, France’s national grand prize for architecture, the gold medal of the French academy of architecture, The Royal Gold Medal of the Royal Institute of British Architects, Italy’s We have to play permanently Borromini Prize for the Lucerne and Congress Center, Japan’s with power, but we always Premium Imperial, The Wolf have a choice. In my case, Prize, the Arnold W Brunner Memorial Prize in Architecture, I always try to work where I the International Highrise Award for the Agbar Tower, and the think I’m useful. Pritzker Prize. The Peninsula 4 PLUS | THURSDAY 9 MAY 2013 CAMPUS Qatar Academy marks ‘bring ‘Rainbow Kebabs’ at Next Generation Kindergarten your dad to school’ day atar Academy (QA) had and one in Grade 1. I was able to visit many visitors recently on all three today but I didn’t get to spend its first annual “Bring your as much time with them as I wanted Qdad to school” day. Fathers, because I was helping other fathers in uncles, grandfathers, big brothers and the school,” Nelson said with a smile. family friends came to spend time with That could be due to the fact that his students in their classrooms and to initiative turned out to be one of the learn more about what children do at most popular parent visiting days the QA each day. school has ever hosted. Derek Nelson, Assistant Principal There were a few students walking at the Primary School, came up with around with their fathers and their the idea as part of a bigger initiative to grandfathers in tow. Other students engage families in the Qatar Academy were Skyping with their fathers on community. “We wanted to focus on Ipads because their fathers were out fathers and other strong male figures of the country. The day was a great Year 1 students at The Next Generation Kindergarten and Primary School made and recognise their importance to our opportunity for fathers to be part of ‘Rainbow Kebabs’ using different fruits, like strawberries, mangoes, kiwis, apples students,” said Nelson, who is also the the students’ enquiry and learning, and and bananas. Accompanying the skewered fruit were honey and cream. “It was father of three students who attend an opportunity for students to be proud such a colourful and appetising sight to see. The fruits on the skewers was a the academy. of their fathers. novel way to attract children.” “I have one child in Pre3, one in Pre4 The Peninsula A parent with Master Chef competition at BPS his ward. Students of the International curriculum of Birla Public School showcased their culinary skills during a Master Chef competition held in the school premises. Principal Shrivatsava inaugurated the competition. The participants, who had come in a chef’s attire, made tasty, exquisite dishes from the cuisines of dif- ferent countries. SIS gets new principal he management of during his career in India and abroad. Shantiniketan Indian School Manju Singh, a trained postgradu- Tannounced the appointment ate in English literature with around of its new principal and vice princi- two decades of experience, was asso- pals at a function held at the Barwa ciated with Delhi Public School for The new principal Campus recently. Dr Subhash B Nair many years.