Designed by I.M. Pei, the 376,740-sq.-ft. Museum of Islamic Art is now open in Doha, Qatar. Inspired by the 13th-century sabil (abultions foundation) of the Mosque of Ahmad Ibn Tulun in Cairo, Egypt, the new facility rises from a site off of the Doha Bay in teh Arabian Gulf.

To design the facility, Pei set off on a quest to understand the diversity of Islamic architecture, touring sites that included the Grand Mosque in Córdoba, Spain; Fatehpur Sikri, a Mughal capital in India; the Umayyad Great Mosque in Damascus, Syria; and the ribat fortresses at Monastir and Sousse in Tunisia.

Declining to build the structure on any of the proposed sites, Pei suggested a stand-along island to ensure that future buildings would not encroach on the museum. As a result, the museum now stands 195 ft. off Doha's Conirche, and is neighbored by 64 acres of dunes and oases.

The actual structure, which comprises a five-story main building and a two-story Education Wing, is constructed from materials including limestone from France, granite from the United States, and architectural concrete from Qatar. The two entities are connected by a central courtyard.

The main building features angular volumes that step back progressively as they rise around a 164-ft.-high domed atrium that is concealed from outside view by the walls of a central tower. Topping the atrium is an oculus that reflects patterened light within the faceted dome.

A glass curtain wall on the north side of the museum affords panoramic  views of the Gulf and West Bay area of Doha from all five floors. Ceilings are embellished with intricate corffered domes, and the chandelier features perforated metal chandeliers. Two additional lanterns, each 100 ft. tall, mark the boat dock on the museum's west side.

The galleries were esigned by Jean-Michel Wilmotte of Paris, and feature dark grey porphyry stone and Louro Faya, a Brazilian lacewood that was brushed and treated to create a metallic appearance that contrasts with the light stonework of the rest of the museum. Exhibition rooms feature specially designed cases and lighting, and Wilmotte also created custom furnture inspired by Pei's architectural style.

The Educational Wing is 29,000 sq. ft. and scheduled to open in late 2009. It includes a reading room, calssrooms, workshops, study spaces, and technical and storage facilities.