The Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi is a landmark of "Architecture as Landscape," where the built form mirrors the monumental scale of mountain peaks and the mathematical patterns of the natural world. Our wayfinding strategy was developed to navigate this complex, cellular environment, utilizing a pentagonal geometric language that bridges traditional regional motifs with the organic structures found in nature. In a project where "repetition with variation" is the guiding principle, the signage and environmental graphics act as the essential decoding layer, allowing visitors to explore a sequence of immersive galleries, digital theatres, and tranquil oases with intuitive ease.
Spanning 35,000 m², the museum’s spatial narrative is one of discovery. Our experiential strategy addresses the unique challenges of a multi-sensory environment, ensuring that the transition from the sun-drenched coastal pedestrian links of Saadiyat Island to the museum’s "mountain peak" interiors is seamless. By integrating the wayfinding into the very geometry of the building’s "cellular" logic, we’ve created a system that is as adaptable and expandable as the natural world itself, stimulating scientific curiosity while maintaining the serene, harmonious atmosphere of a desert oasis.
STRATEGIC DRIVERS
- Develop a wayfinding system aligned with the museum's architectural language, curatorial vision, and local and international standards, without imposing a separate design logic on the space.
- Validate and strengthen the existing signage concept through a full review of circulation documentation, improving clarity of user journeys and refining the design where needed.
- Map movement across all levels, from exterior arrival through galleries and back-of-house, to define primary and secondary circulation routes and key decision points.
- Specify local materials and sustainable, durable products suited to Abu Dhabi's climate, ensuring long-term visual coherence and maintainability across the system.
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