Glimpse into the past at Qasr Al Hosn Festival

Abu Dhabi - Qasr Hosn Festival will open daily to the public from 4pm to 11pm.

Qasr Al Hosn officially looks old now! After years of restoration, Abu Dhabi's oldest, most iconic building, Qasr Al Hosn (or Al Hosn Fort), got its pre-1980s look, being stripped of its modern renovation layer - just in time for the opening of the 2016 Qasr Al Hosn Festival.Taking place this February 3-13 on the fort's grounds, the festival is a celebration of Emirati traditions, history and culture, with the fort remaining very much in its focus."This year, visitors will see major changes to the appearance of Qasr Al Hosn, as more of the 1980s render on the outer palace is removed, visitors will be able to appreciate more of the exposed authentic historic fabric and view the restoration of the façades underway," said Mark Kyffin, head of architecture at Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA), which organises the annual festival. "The aim is to balance traditional materials and modern technologies to reinstate the 1939 to 1945 appearance of the palace," he added. Al Hosn fort began its journey as just a watchtower in the late 1700s, and by 1850 it had become an actual fort. In the 1940s, Shaikh Shakhbut bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the then Abu Dhabi Ruler, built an iconic palace that enclosed the initial fort, which included the decorative arch outside QasrAl Hosn. In the 1980s, the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan had Al Hosn Palace undergo much needed renovation, also adding several more buildings within the fort, which later on became the home of the newly established Centre for Documentation and Research.By the end of the century, Al Hosn Fort closed down. After years of research and conservation work, TCA unveiled the first glimpse of the fort three years ago, during the first Qasr Al Hosn Festival.
Qasr Hosn Festival will open daily to the public from 4pm to 11pm.
Let there be light and sound!
This year, special light and sound shows will take place daily during the festival, in the fort's courtyard, telling the story of the fort. Another remarkable building, although much younger, the Cultural Foundation, will play a part in the festival.Built in 1981 right next to Qasr Al Hosn, the Cultural Foundation was home to Abu Dhabi's art exhibitions, live concerts and theatre shows for decades. This is where the first art "cinema" was established - just a video room in fact - screening old and non-blockbuster movies."Last year during the festival we had a video room where Abu Dhabi residents could record their memories of the Cultural Foundation. This year, we are continuing that project," said Amel Chabbi, building conservator at the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority.
silvia@khaleejtimes.com

• Abu Dhabi