Agata Kurzela Studio Weaves Emirati Heritage into Zayed National Museum's Interiors
Agata Kurzela Studio is at the forefront of shaping the aesthetic and functional spaces within Abu Dhabi's esteemed Zayed National Museum. Their comprehensive work covers the creative direction, curation, and interior architectural planning for various zones, including public, VIP, hospitality, and research facilities. The studio's methodology involves meticulous spatial organization, furniture and fixture selection, material innovation, and extensive collaboration with local designers and artisans. This integrated approach ensures that Emirati cultural narratives are seamlessly translated into modern interior designs through thoughtful use of craft, indigenous materials, and purposeful spatial sequences.
Situated in Abu Dhabi's distinguished Saadiyat Cultural District, the Zayed National Museum stands as a pivotal cultural institution in the United Arab Emirates. Agata Kurzela Studio was tasked with developing an interior design language that harmonizes with the building's grand scale. Instead of relying solely on traditional exhibits, the interiors express Emirati identity through a rich tapestry of spatial, material, and artistic components. This strategy actively incorporates contemporary Emirati designers and makers, featuring custom furniture, unique lighting fixtures, bespoke carpets, artworks, and intricate architectural details, thereby bridging the museum's cultural agenda with current regional design trends. The interior concept by Agata Kurzela Studio draws inspiration from the cyclical patterns of time, traditional rituals, and the enduring memory embedded in materials. For instance, the Majlis Al Shaheen, a guest reception area, features a design palette that evokes the welcoming ritual of gahwa, incorporating textures and references to dates, coffee pots, and woven safeefah. On the first floor, a series of interconnected meeting spaces encircle a central courtyard, with their layout informed by the Al Durour calendar—a historical regional system that segments the year based on ecological and climatic shifts. This influence is subtly reflected in varied spatial densities, color schemes, and surface textures, lending distinct ambiances to each room.
The radiant atrium, Al Liwan, maintains an expansive and imposing character, offering clear navigation and resting points beneath the building's impressive architectural canopy. A modular seating system, conceived by the studio, is seamlessly integrated into the space's structural organization. Conversely, the majlis interiors utilize more restrained material palettes. Majlis Al Hurr 1 mirrors Al Sheta, the winter season, through calming greens, desert-inspired hues, and embroidered motifs reminiscent of rain. Majlis Al Hurr 2, in contrast, captures the vibrant essence of Al Qaith, the intense summer period, with a brighter color scheme. In the main Boardroom, the Al Saif season is referenced, with wall panels featuring kandura imprints providing a direct material connection to regional attire. The Research Library embraces a more distinct and contrasting material aesthetic, drawing inspiration from the structural and textile qualities of Bedouin tents. Positioned to overlook the Magan Boat and its dark woolen sail, the library combines lustrous bronze, solid timber, and semi-raw wool sofa systems. Throughout the museum, the material selection includes wool, rope, artisanal ceramics, camel leather, aged metals, and locally sourced stone. These elements forge tangible links to the region's craft traditions and material heritage. In Majlis Al Shaheen, custom-designed carpets boast long, tactile fringes reminiscent of animal fur, alongside patterns inspired by traditional carved wooden doors. The creation of these intricate elements involved rigorous material testing, kiln trials, and full-scale prototyping conducted in collaboration with local artisans and regional workshops. Specific details were developed exclusively for the museum, meeting stringent technical and performance requirements while preserving the artisanal touch in every finished surface and object.
Collaboration is fundamental to the interior design strategy. While Agata Kurzela Studio provided the overarching design direction and developed core elements such as custom library furniture, boardroom tables, lighting installations, and studio carpets, a diverse group of regional designers and makers contributed unique pieces. Zuleya wove all carpets, and Loretta Bilinskaite, a tarboush expert, collaborated on the hand-finished Emirati tassels. The furniture and lighting collection includes modular bead benches by Abdalla Al Mulla, Takya stone-embedded sofas by Aljoud Lootah, Nomad chairs by Latifa Saeed, reinterpreted residential seating by Omar Al Gurg, and lighting pieces by Roudha Al Shamsi, Alya Al Ghefeli, Khalid Shafar, and Nader Gammas. Additionally, artworks by Afra Al Dhaheri, Juma Al Haj, Michael Rice, and Stephanie Neville are integrated into the museum. These commissioned works collectively infuse the museum's interiors with contemporary regional authorship, linking the institution's historical narratives with current trends in Emirati design, art, and craftsmanship. Through such thoughtful design and collaborative effort, the Zayed National Museum stands as a vibrant testament to Emirati culture, continually evolving while honoring its deep roots.