Architecture of universal truth?
The universal museum, expressed in the architecture of the Musée de Louvre and Louvre Abu Dhabi
O.F. Meng (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
Rachel Lee – Mentor (TU Delft - History, Form & Aesthetics)
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Abstract
This thesis discusses the Musée de Louvre and Louvre Abu Dhabi with regards to the concept of the universal museum, expressed through their architecture. The study of the historical context and architectural language has shown that these legitimize the Enlightenment ideology behind the universal museum. The universal museum of the Louvre was established as a tangible display of power to justify the collecting of objects of different times and cultures, including those acquired during imperial conquest. This is manifested within the architecture. Notably, the definition of the universal museum has changed in the 21st century from not only representing culture, to also attracting it. The establishment of the Louvre Abu Dhabi validates the globalization of French culture, as the United Arab Emirates uses a Western model in order construct its own identity to adhere to global standards. The thesis expresses concern on the insertion of this Western value system within the Middle East, and advocates in favor of the restitution of cultural objects. It is suggested that a new model of the universal museum may help shape a more local and authentic identity for places like Abu Dhabi.