Spanish group APD completes Abu Dhabi palace work
ABU DHABI, June 14, 2019
Spanish group Acciona Producciones y Diseño (APD) said it has carried out the technical development and the museographic implantation of the Presidential Palace of Abu Dhabi to turn it into a visitable space destined to highlight the UAE's historical and cultural legacy.
One of the largest companies in Europe specialising in the design and execution of museums, exhibitions, events and multimedia shows, APD has a solid presence in the sector for designing and producing museum projects in the Middle East.
It has undertaken major projects such as the museographic implementation of The Founder’s Memorial in Abu Dhabi, which promotes the legacy of the UAE founder Late Sheikh Zayed; the National Museum of Oman and the Al-Shaheed Park Museums in Kuwait.
On the Abu Dhabi Palace project, APD said the project is the Qasr Al Watan (Palace of the Nation) in the Presidential Palace compound.
The scope of work for APD included the intervention on a total area of 12,000 sq m and preparation for visits to the main rooms of the palace, three of which have a museographic character.
The interventions included the construction of four large cubicles of 6 m on each side located in the main hall that allow different visions of the same from inside, as well as the installation of graphics, audiovisual equipment, the placement of showcases and the installation of pieces of the collection.
The exhibition provides visitors a range variety of historical documents, artefacts and rare manuscripts that highlight the Arab world’s contributions to various intellectual fields including science, arts, humanities and literature as well as presidential gifts.
APD said it had also installed an elevated platform for the transit of visitors, in order to facilitate accessibility to the site and ensure its preservation.
For this project, APD was faced with the challenge of making every element removable or mobile, including the 6-m cubes, for which the Spanish designer created an “air flotation” system in order to move them without damaging the palace’s marble floor.
APD used staging technology for the removable platforms, supplying lightweight aluminium structures that can be assembled and disassembled by hand, without the need for tools, explained a company spokesman.
The company also created modular and removable designs for the other elements such as the display cases, structures for the projectors and the platforms, as well as the design of the storage cases in which all of the pieces will be stored.
The detachable character of all the elements stands out, for which APD has applied scenario technology, in order to provide lightweight aluminum structures that are assembled and disassembled without the need for tools, stated the spokesman.
It also highlights the modular and removable design of other elements such as showcases, structures for projectors, platforms, as well as the design of the chests in which all the pieces are stored when they are not exposed, he added.
Visitors to the emblematic building will discover the historical and cultural heritage of the UAE, making it a permanent landmark and one of the country’s principal tourist attractions, said the top European group.
The space provided in the Presidential Palace complex to host visits, Qasr Al Watan, is composed of three areas accessible to the public: the Visitor Center; the Palace Visit Experience, which APD has carried out together with other entities, and the Qasr Al Watan Library.
In addition, visitors also have the option to enjoy the gardens around the Palace and other facilities such as a cafe or restaurant.-TradeArabia News Service
