Abu Dhabi Reveals Plans for Frank Gehry–Designed Dar al Funoon

Abu Dhabi Reveals Plans for Frank Gehry–Designed Dar al Funoon

Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism has released renderings of the forthcomingDar al Funoon, aFrank Gehry–designed performing arts venue set to rise in the UAE capital city. Construction has begun on the project, one of the last undertaken by the noted Canadian American architect before hisdeathlast winter.

The venue is being constructed in the Marina District ofSaadiyat Island. The island’s Cultural District, to the north, is home to the still-under-constructionGuggenheim Abu Dhabi, also designed by Gehry. Other institutions occupying the cultural district include theLouvre Abu Dhabi, the National History Museum, the forthcomingZayed National Museum, and teamLab Phenomena.

Dar al Funoon is expected to be completed by 2030. Clad in a rippling reflective skin, the venue will feature 2,000-seat performance hall, a 3,500-seat open-air amphitheater, a 400-seat theater and a 250-seat jazz club as well as retail space, restaurants, and a rooftop terrace. Among the performances hosted there will be opera, ballet, and theater featuring local, regional, and international artists. Designboom reports that the venue’s transparent façade will allow passersby views to the interior and the activities taking place therein.

“Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi represents our long-term investment in artistic expression and reflects our comprehensive approach to cultural development,” said Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, in statement published by Dezeen. “Through artistic residencies, international partnerships and world-class productions, it will expand opportunities for cultural exchange, inspire new generations of creatives, and further strengthen Abu Dhabi’s position as a global center for creativity, exchange and artistic excellence.”