Exhibitions
Experience the history of Qasr Al Hosn through a series of revealing exhibitions charting the development of Abu Dhabi as a city.
Qasr Al Hosn Exhibition
The exhibition will use Qasr Al Hosn as a portal to explore the development of Abu Dhabi as a city, as well as the lives of people in Abu Dhabi over the generations, and the recent works to restore the building.
The exhibition includes a newly commissioned film, and through photographs and first-person testimonies will reveal the rich history of this iconic building and the role it played in people’s daily experiences as well as in Abu Dhabi’s development.
The narrative is presented in 6 Zones:
Zone 1 - Qasr Al Hosn Film and Welcome Area
This zone features an introductory film that explores the story of the palace, its context and the people who have lived and worked in the palace for centuries. The story of Qasr Al Hosn is also the story of Abu Dhabi.
Zone 2 - Foundations
This zone explains how the foundations of Abu Dhabi and Qasr Al Hosn are inextricably linked. In this section both the Tower and settlement, tell us about the lives of the people who lived in Abu Dhabi centuries ago.
Zone 3 - Fortress: Uniting People
This zone narrates the fort’s role in the movement of the seat of power to Abu Dhabi Island under the reign of Sheikh Sakhbut Bin Dhiyab, and its development since into a territory and eventually to a modern state.
Zone 4 - Palace Lives
This zone casts light on the people who would have lived and worked in the fort during this intriguing period in Abu Dhabi’s history.
Zone 5 - Preserving a Monument
This zone explains how while Abu Dhabi continues to advance, unique elements of its heritage are being preserved for future generations.
Zone 6 - Qasr Al Hosn: Building a Future
This zone shows the role of downtown Abu Dhabi that will, once again, become a focal point of Abu Dhabi city.
Lest We Forget
Qasr Al Hosn Festival 2015 will host the homecoming of ‘Lest We Forget: Structures of Memory in the United Arab Emirates’ from la Biennale di Venezia where it debuted in the UAE’s National Pavilion at the acclaimed International Architecture Exhibition.
This exhibition, which is commissioned by the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation, showcases the findings of a larger initiative ‘Lest We Forget’ that seeks to archive the history of architectural and urban development in the UAE over the past century, and is one of the pioneer programmes dedicated to the definition and preservation of modern Emirati heritage.
Experiencing the Cultural Foundation Building: A Tour through the Past, Present and Future of a Modern Heritage Landmark
This exhibition retraces the Cultural Foundation’s memories and highlights of Abu Dhabi's cultural evolution.
The installations displayed throughout the Cultural Foundation Building draw on many senses: sight, sound and movement in the form of a self-guided tour supported by interpretive panels throughout the building.
This element is also the overarching theme for the rest of the programming, geared towards raising awareness on the importance of conserving Abu Dhabi’s modern heritage and the city collecting memories.