Indian architect Martand Khosla has created a striking series of geometric forms for the Lawh Wa Qalam: M F Husain Museum in Doha, which stands as the first museum in the world dedicated exclusively to the modernist artist Maqbool Fida Husain.
Commissioned by the non-profit Qatar Foundation, the museum houses a collection of more than 150 items that celebrate Husain’s life and prolific career. Husain, a celebrated artist who was born in India and later became a Qatari national, passed away in 2011.
Nestled within Qatar Foundation’s Education City campus, the museum is composed of a sequence of rectangular and cylindrical structures, each featuring geometric relief patterns across the facades.
Khosla’s architectural vision was inspired by a sketch that Husain himself created, imagining how a museum dedicated to his work might take shape.
“The architectural challenge, one I enjoyed immensely, was to translate his symbolic vision into a contemporary building that could both house his individual legacy and engage with the context of Education City,” Khosla explained.
“The museum’s architectural language evolved into a series of spaces that invite reflection and exchange, with materials that celebrate our shared cultural histories across South and West Asia.”
Inside, the museum unfolds as a series of gallery spaces that lead visitors through the various stages of Husain’s artistic journey. The exhibitions encompass his paintings, sculptures, films, tapestries, photographs, poetry, and installations.
Beyond the galleries, the building also features a café, a gift shop, a timber-lined library, a creativity hub, and an auditorium designed to host events and lectures.
<figure id="preload-2" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-227614
