The Museum of Islamic Art, usually called MIA, stands on Doha’s Corniche with views across the bay. Qatar Museums describes it as one of the country’s early cultural projects, founded in 2008 and designed by Chinese-American architect I. M. Pei. The location and building make a strong first impression, but the museum is more than a photo stop: its galleries present objects and ideas from a wide geography and a long history of Islamic art and culture.
Pei’s five-storey main building is linked to an education wing by a large courtyard. A high domed atrium rises at the centre, and the cream-coloured limestone exterior changes in appearance as daylight shifts. The architecture draws on geometric traditions while using a distinctly modern form. Inside, curved stairs, a patterned dome and a large window looking north toward the bay shape the visitor’s movement and views. The design is best understood by walking through the central spaces rather than seeing only the waterfront façade.