08/02/2026
we still prefer „brise soleil“ 😎
A Rain of Light.
It is rare that a roof becomes more famous than the art it covers.
For the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Jean Nouvel designed a massive 180-meter dome that appears to float above the white galleries. Despite weighing 7,500 tons—almost as much as the Eiffel Tower—it touches the ground on just four invisible piers hidden within the buildings.
The structure is a complex geometric web of 7,850 stars, layered eight times. As the sun passes above, the light filters through the perforations, creating a moving dappled effect on the floor known as the "Rain of Light".
This is not merely decoration. The dome creates a comfortable microclimate, reducing the scorching desert heat while allowing the sea breeze to flow through the open promenade.
Is this the most beautiful ceiling in the world?
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Louvre Abu Dhabi, Ateliers Jean Nouvel, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 2017, photo Fatima Al Shamsi.