we told the story of 13.8 billion years
Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi – NHMAD
BRIEF
To craft an opening that connected guests to Earth’s beginnings.
We were appointed by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi to design and deliver the grand opening of the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi.
The brief asked for an experience that welcomed guests into the museum’s world through story and spectacle, capturing the journey from the Big Bang to the present day.
APPROACH
A storytelling approach that made complex science feel deeply human.
We transformed the museum’s façade and gardens into an open-air canvas for discovery, using projection, sound and lighting to guide guests through 13.8 billion years of history.
EXPERIENCE
A Welcome into Earth’s 13.8-Billion-Year Story
Guests entered the museum’s gardens, reimagined as an open-air storytelling landscape. Projection and soundscapes set the tone for a journey that would move from cosmic origins to life on Earth.
A Living Façade
The museum’s architecture became the canvas for the opening sequence. Projection and sound design worked in harmony to visualise the birth of the universe, the formation of planets and the emergence of species, creating a sense of scale and wonder.
A Journey from Cosmos to Creatures
Narrated by Cate Blanchett, space, oceans, forests and prehistoric worlds evolved across the façade in sweeping chapters, each rendered with scientific accuracy and emotional clarity.
Guests watched as millennia unfolded in moments, revealing the forces that shaped our planet.
A Moment for Abu Dhabi’s Cultural Future
The sequence culminated in the museum’s mission to share the story of life on Earth with the world.
As the final image settled, the experience shifted from spectacle to celebration, marking a defining milestone for Abu Dhabi’s cultural district.
IMPACT
A landmark cultural moment for Abu Dhabi.
The opening experience signalled the arrival of a world-class scientific institution within Saadiyat Cultural District, setting a new benchmark for immersive cultural storytelling in the region and welcoming guests into the museum’s mission to share the story of life on Earth.
