MUSEUMS
SHARJAH MARITIME MUSEUM
Preserving and interpreting
as local a focus as possible, stressing local age destination. The Maritime Museum is
the stories of rich maritime
stories,” says Alisdair Hinshelwood, HSD housed in a contemporary building over-
Director. “We’ve been fortunate to have looking the creek. It was designed by the
heritage is the aim of worked on many of Sharjah’s museums, local offi ce of the architects Cansult who
Sharjah Maritime Museum.
and have been able to ensure that these HSD worked closely with both in terms of
local stories are consistent and comple- integrated design and in the coordination
Keith Gray explains how the
mentary across each project.” and programming of the installation of the
importance of the region’s
The Emirate of Sharjah, as with most large boats and ships.
fi shing and pearling trades
Gulf states, has a long maritime herit- The project was initiated before the crea-
age, but with its presence on both the tion of Sharjah Museums Department, but
have been conveyed Arabian Gulf and the Indian Ocean coasts, when they took ownership of the project it
Sharjah’s heritage is richer than most, a greatly strengthened the delivery of a pri-
heritage which began 3,000 years ago and mary focus to engage the local audience
still continues today. whose maritime heritage is rapidly disap-
The original maritime museum was in pearing, and give international visitors a
F
or more than 20 years, His one of the restored buildings in the heart unique perspective on the importance of
Highness Sheikh Sultan bin of the old city, but space was limited and fi shing, trade and pearling to Sharjah and
Mohammed Al Qasimi, the ruler care of the collections was extremely dif- all the Gulf states. The sea, as much as the
of the Emirate in Sharjah in the UAE, has fi cult. His Highness made the decision to desert and the mountains, has shaped the
been investing in the educational and relocate the museum both to protect the culture and history of Sharjah both on the
heritage facilities of the Emirate, build- collection and to allow the story of the Gulf and Indian Ocean coasts.
ing schools, universities, science centres, country’s maritime heritage to be told in The Maritime Museum’s interpretative
museums and wildlife centres and restor- more depth and more visually. scheme has an energetic fl owing design
ing the historic heart of the old city. refl ecting the movement, weather and cur-
For the last 15 years, Haley Sharpe HERITAGE DESTINATION rents of the Sharjah marine environment.
Design (HSD) has worked with His The Maritime Museum is located in the These fl uid forms are used to open-display
Highness on many of these projects and, Al Khan area of Sharjah, a historic fi sh- the local craft and associated objects, with
more recently, with the newly-created ing village where the old coral stone each display cluster focused around the
Sharjah Museums Department headed houses are currently being restored. His stories of individual Sharjans who have
by Manal Ataya, which has professional Highness chose this location for the spent their lives associated with the sea,
responsibility for all museum and heritage Sharjah Aquarium too, (also conceptual- from fi shermen, pearlers, and boat build-
activities in the Emirate. “From the outset ised, designed and project managed by ers to the director of the Ports Authority.
there’s always been an objective to create Haley Sharpe) to create a maritime herit- Exploring the lives of individuals, and work-
The museum has an energetic fl owing
design (right) and exhibits include scaled
models and interpretative displays (left) as
well as historical objects depicting the Gulf
state’s maritime history (above)
48 Read Attractions Management online
attractionsmanagement.com/digital AM 1 2010
©
cybertrek 2010
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86