Foster + Partners' Reveal Plans for Wing-Shaped Abu Dhabi Museum

Foster + Partners' recently revealed new designs for an awe-inspiring wing-shaped museum in Abu Dhabi. Called the Zayed National Museum, the center will be dedicated to showcasing the history and culture of the country and will feature five feather-like solar towers that are as architecturally striking as they are energy-saving.

The five wing-shaped towers protrude from a man-made, landscaped mound that houses the galleries. The towers act as thermal chimneys and draw cooling currents through the museum without any need for electricity. Fresh air is captured and drawn through underground ground-cooling pipes and then released into the museum’s air. Since the towers heat up at the top, air is pulled up vertically through the galleries due to the thermal stack effect, and is then drawn out of the air vents.

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