Koichi Takada Architects designed two gift shops at National Museum of Qatar in Doha, featuring undulating wooden surfaces.

Inspired by Dahl Al Misfir, which means cave of light, National Museum of Qatar Gift Shops echoes Koichi Takada's vision of bringing nature back into architecture, establishing relationships that connect people and nature through design.

Using 3D-modeling software, the shops are a three-dimensional puzzle, comprising 40,000 individual wooden pieces. Each is unique, fitting only with its corresponding piece and was assembled by hand on-site.

The intensity of the design and craftsmanship pays homage to Jean Nouvel's desert rose-inspired architecture and celebrates the natural Qatari heritage of the desert-scape.

This project has been longlisted in the small retail interior category of Dezeen Awards 2020.

Designer: Koichi Takada Architects
Project: National Museum of Qatar Gift Shops
Read more: Koichi Takada Architects