The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)

Project Overview

• Biggest museum in the world by area: 50 hectares (123.5 acres)
• Comparison to the Louvre: Louvre covers 24 hectares (59 acres)
• Exhibition space: 925,000 sq ft (86,000 sq m) - largest archaeological museum in the world
• Galleries: Permanent and temporary exhibitions
• Children's Museum: Designed to engage young visitors with ancient history

Key Attractions

• Tutankhamun's Collection: Largest attraction
  • Over 5,400 artifacts
  • Includes Death Masks, golden sandals, beds, iron dagger
• Other Ancient Artifacts: Over 100,000 artifacts

Location

• Situated on the Giza Plateau
• Near the pyramids (2 km / 1.2 mi away)
• Offers panoramic views of the three pyramids

History of the Project

• Concept: Idea emerged in 1992
• International Competition (2002): Attracted architects from 82 countries
• Winning Design: Heneghan Peng Architects (Irish firm) in 2003
• Foundation Laid: By President Hosni Mubarak
• Initial Statue Moved (2006): Ramesses II statue, 3200 years old was the first to be moved
• Funding: $300 million loan from the Japan Bank, total cost estimated at $1 billion
• Delays: Due to the Egyptian Revolution and the pandemic
• Current Status: Soft opening in 2023, full opening by end of 2024
• Expected Visitors: 5 million annually

Visitors' Experience

• Parts open include:
  • Exhibition floor
  • Grand hall
  • Grand staircase
  • Commercial area
  • Exterior gardens
• Parts not yet open:
  • Main galleries
  • Khufu Solar Boat Museum

Engineering and Design

• Base Isolation System: For earthquake protection
• Triangular Design: Optimized for sustainability
  • High-performance glass for natural light
  • Maintains interior temperature at 73°F while outside temperature can be 150°F
• Solar Panels: Roof covered with solar panels, energy-efficient
• **Landscape Design: **
  • Nile Park: Represents the River Nile with lush vegetation, water features
  • Entrance Plaza: Water basin, palm trees
  • Palm Grove: Hundreds of date palm trees
• Local Materials: Granite and limestone to reduce environmental impact
• Smart Landscaping: Native plants, water-saving techniques
  • Expected energy savings equivalent to removing 400 gasoline-powered vehicles annually
  • Water savings: 63.4 million liters of Nile River water annually

Technological Innovations

• Construction Technology:
  • Building Information Modeling (BIM) used for planning and coordination
  • Autodesk software (Revit and BIM 360) used
• Artifact Conservation:
  • 17 conservation labs focusing on different materials
  • Microbiology lab for studying tiny organisms
• Exhibitions:
  • VR experience of Tutankhamun's tomb

Conclusion

• Completion expected by end of 2024, expected to become a major cultural and economic hub.