Giza, Egypt
Located just a mile away from the monumental Great Pyramids of Giza, the Grand Egyptian Museum by the Dublin-based architectural practice Heneghan Peng Architects is ready to open to the public as the world’s biggest museum building designed to accommodate some of humanity’s most precious artifacts.
The Grand Museum was set to be open to the public in late 2020.
The completion of this archeological museum complex, dedicated to the Egyptian Civilization and hosting over 100,000 artifacts, marks a significant milestone in preserving and showcasing the cultural heritage of that civilization.
Such a vast collection provides invaluable insights into the history, art, and daily life of the people from that era, allowing visitors to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the past.
The design of the museum is characterized by a prominent stone facade that undergoes visual transformations from day to night, creating an ever-changing spectacle.
Additionally, the layout incorporates three distinct visual axes, each aligning with one of the pyramids in the background, enhancing the overall aesthetic and creating a sense of harmony with the surrounding landscape.
These axes split the building up into three main zones in which the museum’s program emerges.
The visitor enters through a great court, where a monumental sculpture of Egyptian Pharaoh Rameses II stands in the center. Following this entrance is a secondary forecourt, hosting a grand shaded staircase that ascends to the original plateau level.
Subsequently, the permanent exhibition is located in the galleries at the plateau level, designed for the visitor to enjoy a perfectly framed view of the pyramids.
The cultural center is devoted to years of research and Egyptology, a place to house a myriad of ruins, artifacts, and antiquity.
The Museum includes 24,000 square meters of permanent exhibition space, a children’s museum, conference and education facilities, and a large conservation center.
These collections contain the full Tutankhamun Collection and the iconic Solar Boat, which was moved from the Great Pyramids of Giza.
The Museum has open access to extensive gardens also designed by Heneghan Peng Architects.
Project: Grand Egyptian Museum
Architects: Heneghan Peng Architects
Design Team Management: Davis Langdon
Client: Ministry of Culture, Egypt
Photographs: Courtesy of the Architects