The Doha Museum of Islamic Art designer, IM Pei, envisioned the building as a waterfront, amalgamating traditional Islamic architecture with the newer technologies and building materials.
The five-storeyed complex (4,225 sq m) is located on an artificial island; Doha’s Corniche, about 60m into the sea. The two-storeyed education wing (2,694 sq m) is connected by a large central courtyard.
The Museum of Islamic Art also features a library, nine classrooms, workshops, study areas, technical and storage facilities, a gift shop, a restaurant and bar, and an auditorium.
The main building of the Museum of Islamic Art Doha is nearly windowless. It is designed in an angular style, with imposing forms.
The building’s exterior is made of stainless steel (Germany), Jet Mist granite (USA), and cream-coloured Magny and Chamesson limestone (France).
To create a grand entrance for guests arriving by boat, the Museum's west side boat dock is marked by two additional lanterns, each standing at a height of 100 feet.
MIA's overall size diminishes as you get closer, and its forms more grander. The bridge is positioned diagonally to the entrance, with rows of tall palm trees. Also notice two tiny arched windows above the entrance.
Piles, big pile caps, grade beams, pressure grade slabs, new coves, a peninsula, and deep wells had to be built to redesign the coastline.
The Museum of Islamic Art designer installed 2.5 km prefabricated rock cladding, 30,000 cb m of concrete, and 200,000 cb m of structural fill.
The dome's descent is changed by a geometric matrix from a circle to an octagon, then a square, and finally, four triangular fins that lean at different heights to form the atrium's columns.
At the heart of the Museum of Islamic Art is a grand central atrium. It is located in the central tower. It is crowned by a striking dome that measures 12 m in diameter.
The stainless steel dome’s design features latticework. The first floor can be accessed by a curved double staircase located in the middle of the atrium.
The U-shaped balconies cantilever around it. Glass-floored bridges span the cafeteria. It is accompanied by the gushing water sound from the octagonal black marble fountain.