Louvre Abu Dhabi launches Quantum Dome Project, amplifying visitor experience through virtual reality technology
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)Louvre Abu Dhabi has launched the Quantum Dome Project, a 25-minute VR experience enabling up to 10 visitors at the same time to digitally experience three artefacts from the museum's collection.Now open to the public and running for 12 months, Louvre Abu Dhabi's Quantum Dome Project will be housed in the museum's Lower Forum. The VR experience uses wireless, full-body motion tracking to move freely through vivid, walkable digital environments.Visitors will embark on a time-travel mission inspired by science fiction, where past and future collide in an immersive journey through art and history. Guided by a cinematic narrative, visitors will experience centuries and rediscover a selection of masterpieces from the Louvre Abu Dhabi collection. The experience brings to life the historical worlds behind three significant artefacts from the museum's permanent collection, each carefully researched and digitally reimagined including The Portrait of Emperor Augustus, Imperial Rome, 1st century CE, where visitors can experience the colonnades of the Augustus Forum and encounter the scale, power, and symbolism of Roman imperial rule.Visitors will also be offered a digital experience of a manuscript page from De Materia Medica, Medieval Baghdad, 13th century CE, where they can step into the library of the House of Wisdom, where scholars gathered to unlock the secrets of medicine, nature, and the cosmos. Finally, visitors will also gain access to the Four Mirror Armour | Mughal India, 17th–18th century CE, experiencing tranquil waters past the Jal Mahal, immersed in the refined world of the Mughal empire.The experience will immerse participants in a radical new form of storytelling where they can experience vast virtual historical landscapes. In addition, the journey is not an individual one, but a shared one: participants see one another, interact, and advance together through a narrative that blends discovery, learning, and cutting-edge technology.Grounded in real artefacts and cultural contexts, each virtual environment invites visitors to engage with the past as a lived, multi-sensory experience. Whether tracing the architectural majesty of ancient Rome, the intellectual vitality of Abbasid Baghdad, or the artistic grandeur of Mughal India, Quantum Dome Project allows history to unfold in real time.Marine Botton, Interpretation and Creative Content Senior Officer at Louvre Abu Dhabi, said: "Quantum Dome Project is an extension of our mission to connect cultures and communities through meaningful, innovative experiences. As a museum rooted in storytelling and universality, we are proud to offer an experience where visitors can engage with history not as distant observers but as active participants. "This project embodies Louvre Abu Dhabi's commitment to using technology to creating powerful and accessible cultural initiatives bridging time and bringing human stories vividly to life in a shared experience.'
Developed with Small Creative Studio in France, Quantum Dome Project is available in Arabic, English, and French, and suitable for visitors aged eight and above. It's designed to engage a wide range of audiences, including solo visitors, families, students, tech lovers, and cultural explorers, through one shared journey.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
8 hours ago
- The National
Time-travel through Baghdad, Rome and Mughal India as Louvre Abu Dhabi launches VR experience
In a 1993 episode of The Simpsons, Lisa is in class, daydreaming of a headset that can take her back in time to witness the Mongol conquests alongside Genghis Khan. The thought was compelling, even if far-fetched – an educational technology that goes beyond books and blackboards, offering a firsthand, multisensory experience of history. We're not quite there yet, and time travel may never break the barrier of fiction. But for edutainment purposes, we have the next best thing. Louvre Abu Dhabi has launched a project that – much like Lisa's headset – presents history as something to be lived and experienced. The Quantum Dome Project is a virtual reality installation that unfolds over 25 minutes. It immerses participants in digital reconstructed environments from three disparate and historic corners of the globe: ancient Rome, medieval Baghdad and Mughal-era India. Up to 10 people can enter the VR chamber at once, each fitted with a wireless headset that tracks their full-body movements in real time. Developed with French production company Small Creative Studio, the technology requires no joysticks or other hand-held devices. Participants can move freely in between the colonnades of a Roman forum, sift through the books of the ancient House of Wisdom, and be in the midst of battle on the lakes near the Jal Mahal. Each setting is tied to a real object in the museum's collection: a marble sculpture of Emperor Augustus, a manuscript page from De Materia Medica, and a suit of armour dubbed Four Mirrors. These artefacts act as entry points, connecting the physical world of the museum to the journey unfolding inside the headset. 'We identified objects that had potential,' says Marine Botton, senior officer of interpretation and creative content at Louvre Abu Dhabi. 'We have a rich collection, so it was difficult to choose but we wanted objects that are representative of three different eras and civilisations,' adds Botton. 'We wanted to select objects that had enough documentation, to allow us to depict as accurately as possible the historical landscapes surrounding them,' adds Amine Kharchach, interpretation and mediation manager in the museum's education and cultural engagement department. 'We worked hand in hand with our curatorial team to pick the right details.' But this isn't a static exhibition dressed up in technology. The Quantum Dome Project follows a sci-fi narrative, bookended by scenes at Louvre Abu Dhabi itself. The story begins in an underground laboratory at the museum, where scientists attempt to extract the 'memory' of objects using experimental quantum technology. As with any compelling story, things go awry. Visitors are flung across time and space, landing in an imperial Roman forum, in the midst of towering colonnades, citizens in togas, and a towering statue of Augustus, the first Roman emperor, in colourful orator's garb. The experience blends historical fidelity with imaginative reconstruction. While the environments are grounded in rigorous research, certain details had to be filled with educated guesswork, especially where there are gaps in historical records. 'For instance, we knew that the head of Augustus was part of a standing statue,' Botton says. 'But we didn't know the statue's position, whether it was dressed as an orator or in a military outfit. But we dug deeper and tried to work on credible hypothesis. We would go to our scientific team, raise questions and come back with answers.' Researchers relied on the archaeological remains of the Forum of Augustus to create its digital counterpart. But in the case of the House of Wisdom, they had no such foundation. Once believed to be the largest library in the world, the House of Wisdom established Baghdad as a global centre of knowledge during the eighth and ninth centuries. It was said to hold tens of thousands of books and manuscripts – works on astronomy, medicine, philosophy and more. But in the 13th century, the library was destroyed by the Mongol siege of Baghdad. Legend has it that so many books were thrown into the Tigris that the river ran black with ink. Given the House of Wisdom's tragic past and folkloric weight in the region, standing in its virtual rendering is something else entirely. The arched corridors open around a central courtyard, flanked by shelves that seem to stretch to infinity. Scholars move through the space with focused urgency, unrolling scrolls and discussing findings. The environment is highly interactive. Books flicker open as you approach, a cat purrs when you reach down to touch it. Of course, the virtual scene is not precise reconstruction – after all, no one knows what the library really looked like – but within the Quantum Dome Project, it feels vivid and animates a past that has long been associated with myth and loss. 'Today, archaeologically, we don't have any remains associated to the House of Wisdom,' Kharchach says. 'What we did is to look at the documentation of buildings, mainly madrasas, which existed at the same time. So you have to work with the hypothesis.' While the architecture required informed assumptions, the details within were shaped by rigorous research. 'We also have documentation that there were women working in the House of Wisdom and doing research,' Kharchach adds. 'We wanted to display that as well. We also strove to understand what the furniture looked like, what the carpets looked like, and so on.' The mood shifts dramatically as the story propels towards the waters of Rajasthan. The Jal Mahal looms large, receding as the boat pulls away from the lake. It is a serene sight – until fiery arrows cut though the night sky. Instinctually, viewers will move to dodge the arrows. The soldiers on the boat row faster, urged onwards by a commander dressed in the Four Mirrors armour. The suit is brought to life in the scene, showing how each of its polished panels serve to protect vital parts of the body. Its presence is eye-catching and authoritative. The scene in Jaipur is unlike the calm reverence of Baghdad or the order of Rome. It is a moment of drama and urgency, serving as the emotional and narrative climax of the experience. It also underscores how instinct and immersion come together in this cutting-edge virtual reality. It doesn't just replicate the past, but also provokes a physical response to it. 'For us, we use technology if it's ready to support the storytelling,' Botton says. 'We wanted to connect audiences to our narrative in a fun and engaging way, but through a very strong story. And now VR is ready to support these kind of stories. This is what drove us to explore its potential.' While the experience can be enjoyed individually, it is perhaps best savoured as a collective. Botton says ticketing price is set to encourage groups to attend. The individual price for the experience is Dh120, including access to the museum, while booking in groups of four will cost Dh95 per person.
Al Etihad
9 hours ago
- Al Etihad
Louvre Abu Dhabi launches Quantum Dome Project, amplifying visitor experience through virtual reality technology
4 July 2025 16:07 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)Louvre Abu Dhabi has launched the Quantum Dome Project, a 25-minute VR experience enabling up to 10 visitors at the same time to digitally experience three artefacts from the museum's open to the public and running for 12 months, Louvre Abu Dhabi's Quantum Dome Project will be housed in the museum's Lower Forum. The VR experience uses wireless, full-body motion tracking to move freely through vivid, walkable digital will embark on a time-travel mission inspired by science fiction, where past and future collide in an immersive journey through art and history. Guided by a cinematic narrative, visitors will experience centuries and rediscover a selection of masterpieces from the Louvre Abu Dhabi collection. The experience brings to life the historical worlds behind three significant artefacts from the museum's permanent collection, each carefully researched and digitally reimagined including The Portrait of Emperor Augustus, Imperial Rome, 1st century CE, where visitors can experience the colonnades of the Augustus Forum and encounter the scale, power, and symbolism of Roman imperial will also be offered a digital experience of a manuscript page from De Materia Medica, Medieval Baghdad, 13th century CE, where they can step into the library of the House of Wisdom, where scholars gathered to unlock the secrets of medicine, nature, and the cosmos. Finally, visitors will also gain access to the Four Mirror Armour | Mughal India, 17th–18th century CE, experiencing tranquil waters past the Jal Mahal, immersed in the refined world of the Mughal experience will immerse participants in a radical new form of storytelling where they can experience vast virtual historical landscapes. In addition, the journey is not an individual one, but a shared one: participants see one another, interact, and advance together through a narrative that blends discovery, learning, and cutting-edge in real artefacts and cultural contexts, each virtual environment invites visitors to engage with the past as a lived, multi-sensory experience. Whether tracing the architectural majesty of ancient Rome, the intellectual vitality of Abbasid Baghdad, or the artistic grandeur of Mughal India, Quantum Dome Project allows history to unfold in real Botton, Interpretation and Creative Content Senior Officer at Louvre Abu Dhabi, said: "Quantum Dome Project is an extension of our mission to connect cultures and communities through meaningful, innovative experiences. As a museum rooted in storytelling and universality, we are proud to offer an experience where visitors can engage with history not as distant observers but as active participants. "This project embodies Louvre Abu Dhabi's commitment to using technology to creating powerful and accessible cultural initiatives bridging time and bringing human stories vividly to life in a shared experience.' Developed with Small Creative Studio in France, Quantum Dome Project is available in Arabic, English, and French, and suitable for visitors aged eight and above. It's designed to engage a wide range of audiences, including solo visitors, families, students, tech lovers, and cultural explorers, through one shared journey.
Al Etihad
a day ago
- Al Etihad
NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025: Tickets on sale for fans to see Knicks and 76ers
3 July 2025 23:29 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and the NBA have announced that tickets sales for this year's NBA Abu Dhabi Games are open to the general 2025 edition, presented by ADQ, will feature the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers playing preseason games on October 2 and 4 (Thursday and Saturday respectively) at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island. Tickets are available on the venue's website ( and the platform Special ticket packages offering premium access, VIP experiences and hospitality are also available for purchase at Knicks will feature two-time NBA All-Star Jalen Brunson, five-time NBA All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns and 2022 NBA All-Defensive first-team member Mikal Bridges. Bridges and Brunson previously played in Abu Dhabi as members of the USA Basketball men's team in preparation for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. Towns participated in The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2023 as a member of the Minnesota 76ers feature 2023 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player and seven-time NBA All-Star Joel Embiid, nine-time NBA All-Star Paul George and 2024 NBA All-Star Tyrese Maxey. Embiid also played in Abu Dhabi as a member of the American national men's team before heading off to the 2024 Olympic Games in NBA Abu Dhabi Games will air live in the UAE, across the Middle East and around the world, reaching fans in more than 200 countries and territories through television, digital media, and social NBA Abu Dhabi Games are part of a multi-year collaboration between the NBA and DCT Abu Dhabi that features preseason NBA Global Games, youth development programming that has reached nearly 20,000 participants since 2022, interactive fan events featuring appearances by current and former NBA and WNBA players, an NBA 2K League exhibition event, and NBA Cares social impact programming focused on health, wellness, and sustainability. Fans can follow the NBA on Instagram and X (@NBAArabic) for the latest updates, news and content in Arabic, and also shop online for merchandise at and at the NBA Store at Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi.
