I’m an architect by profession. I love exploring and
finding new buildings around me. As a part, I happened to find this local museum in the google maps. Went through the reviews and got a basic picture of it.
When I went to the Museum I realized the basic picture I had was nowhere close enough for what it’s value. It was much more than a museum.
I personally found the museum building, by itself was far more important than the exhibits it showcased.
Either the curator or the majority of the visitors failed to grasp the history and importance of the building or at least the concerned officials failed to communicate it to others. The irony is the historic building belongs to the ruler of the state (Locally called Emirate in UAE).
Now let’s talk about the building. The moment I stepped out the taxi for the museum I thought there is something interestingly unusual about this building. Basic elements of a modern structure in the local area were missing here substantially. There was a tower-like structure on the top of the building placed randomly on the museum.
Later through the ticket counter receptionist, I learned the purpose of the tower and the apparent history of the building. I was told this building was a Royal mansion built in the 18th century for the Sheikh ruler of the region. Somewhere around 20th century Royal mansion was converted to a prison and the royal family was relocated. The same era the prison was eventually converted to a museum in the current form.
Predominating characteristic of this Mansion converted Museum are the towers which I initially mentioned. It is basically a ‘windcatcher’ which was designed to draw the wind to the associated rooms and eventually lower the internal temperature of the rooms. Windcatcher was a common feature for the mansions those days mainly because of the excruciating heat weather. The walls are made of solid blocks took from the rocks under the sea since the site was proximal to the sea. These coral blocks have a thermal characteristic of preventing increasing internal temperature of the building. Horizontal structural frames like lintel beams and floor slabs are made of trunks of mangrove as well as palm leaves branches. Mangrove trees and palm trees are common in Ras Al-Khaimah.
Long story short, I found the history of the museum which was a kind of hidden and as a responsible Local guide I reviewed it in Google maps.
( PS: Later I found the detailed information in the Museum website. But my point is the authority failed the information to reach the public and now I have it mentioned it in my google review of the Museum which could reach more audience for sure)