The Zayed National Museum

Architect - Foster + Partners 

Lighting Designer - Claude R. Engle

The Zayed National Museum is the national museum of the United Arab Emirates and celebrates the life and legacy of the country’s founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Designed by Foster and Partners, the buildings most prominent feature is the 123m-tall ‘wings’ which rise from the roof and are inspired by the wings of a falcon. The wings are part of the museum’s ventilation system and contain glazed openings to channel natural light into the galleries below. The museum contains six permanent galleries, four of which are suspended in ‘pods’ above the central atrium area and linked by sculptural spiral staircases.

Inside, the museum presents archaeological discoveries, historic objects, and immersive multimedia exhibits charting the history of the Middle Eastern country from its earliest evidence of human habitation to the modern day.

DAL’s VP series of architectural downlights were used throughout the project. The VP Series has been employed to complement the sophisticated ceiling styles. Designed with multi-functional compatibility in mind, the VP series provides an ideal lighting solution that accommodates the diverse ceiling types, ensuring consistent aesthetic finishes across the museum’s interior architecture.