ABU DHABI // Abu Dhabi's Louvre museum is finally taking shape. The foundations of the building on Saadiyat Island were completed this week as the last of more than 4,500 pilings were put in place, said Felix Reinberg, the director of museum projects delivery for the Tourism Development and Investment Company.
"The museum is underground, so it's a pretty significant element to this project," he said, calling this phase of construction a "milestone".
"This is a precursor to the substructure. It's the foundations to support the superstructure and that awesome dome that everybody is eagerly awaiting to have completed."
A total of 4,536 steel and reinforced concrete pile sections were required, with each piece measuring between 20 to 22 metres long.
"If you laid them each end-to-end, that's just about 100km, which would take you almost from Abu Dhabi to Dubai."
Work on the planned museum, designed by the Pritzker prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel, has been difficult, not least because construction is on reclaimed land.
"This project is in the seas, so that in itself is major," Mr Reinberg said.
A "diaphragm wall" had to be created during the excavation to hold back water.
"The artworks have to be protected and we have a waterproofing system in our basement, so all the concrete is tied together with very limited amount of expansion joints so the water does not intrude to the basement."
Ground was broken on the 24,000 square metre complex in May 2009. It is scheduled to open in 2013.
Work also began this week on the foundation of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, with 1,400 piles to be placed on site over the next six months.
@Email:mkwong@thenational.ae
Secret Nation: The Hidden Armenians of Turkey
Avedis Hadjian, (IB Tauris)
if you go
The flights
Direct flights from the UAE to the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, are available with Air Arabia, (www.airarabia.com) Fly Dubai (www.flydubai.com) or Etihad (www.etihad.com) from Dh1,200 return including taxes. The trek described here started from Jomson, but there are many other start and end point variations depending on how you tailor your trek. To get to Jomson from Kathmandu you must first fly to the lake-side resort town of Pokhara with either Buddha Air (www.buddhaair.com) or Yeti Airlines (www.yetiairlines.com). Both charge around US$240 (Dh880) return. From Pokhara there are early morning flights to Jomson with Yeti Airlines or Simrik Airlines (www.simrikairlines.com) for around US$220 (Dh800) return.
The trek
Restricted area permits (US$500 per person) are required for trekking in the Upper Mustang area. The challenging Meso Kanto pass between Tilcho Lake and Jomson should not be attempted by those without a lot of mountain experience and a good support team. An excellent trekking company with good knowledge of Upper Mustang, the Annaurpuna Circuit and Tilcho Lake area and who can help organise a version of the trek described here is the Nepal-UK run Snow Cat Travel (www.snowcattravel.com). Prices vary widely depending on accommodation types and the level of assistance required.
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Company%20Profile
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Vaccine Progress in the Middle East
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If you go
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Seattle from Dh5,555 return, including taxes.
The car
Hertz offers compact car rental from about $300 (Dh1,100) per week, including taxes. Emirates Skywards members can earn points on their car hire through Hertz.
The national park
Entry to Mount Rainier National Park costs $30 for one vehicle and passengers for up to seven days. Accommodation can be booked through mtrainierguestservices.com. Prices vary according to season. Rooms at the Holiday Inn Yakima cost from $125 per night, excluding breakfast.
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
SPECS
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