{"id":674478,"date":"2025-10-29T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-29T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/?post_type=gem&#038;p=674478"},"modified":"2025-12-18T09:06:12","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T09:06:12","slug":"the-backstory","status":"publish","type":"gem","link":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/unveiling-the-gem\/the-backstory\/","title":{"rendered":"The backstory"},"content":{"rendered":"<section id=\"674480\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"674480\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">1<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">COUNTDOWN<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/29\/three-days-away-from-the-grand-opening\/\">\r\n                            Three days away from the grand opening                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/29\/three-days-away-from-the-grand-opening\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); navigator.clipboard.writeText('https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/29\/three-days-away-from-the-grand-opening\/')\">\n                    Copy Link                <\/a>\n\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/29\/three-days-away-from-the-grand-opening\/\">\n                    Facebook                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/facebook-icon2.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/intent\/post?text=Three days away from the grand opening&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/29\/three-days-away-from-the-grand-opening\/\">\n                    X                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/twitter-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/29\/three-days-away-from-the-grand-opening\/&title=Three days away from the grand opening\">\n                    LinkedIn                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/linkedin-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?text=Three+days+away+from+the+grand+opening+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fegypt%2F2025%2F10%2F29%2Fthree-days-away-from-the-grand-opening%2F\">\n                    WhatsApp                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/whatsapp-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n    <\/div>\n        <\/div>\r\n                    \r\n                <\/div>\r\n\r\n            \r\n            <div class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/29\/three-days-away-from-the-grand-opening\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/10\/1610.jpg?fit=1568%2C9999&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"674481\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/29\/three-days-away-from-the-grand-opening\/1610-jpg-6\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/10\/1610.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"1610.jpg\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/10\/1610.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/10\/1610.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-674480\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-674480 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-countdown tag-countdown tag-gem_edition tag-the-grand-egyptian-museum wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-audio mb-0\"><audio controls preload=\"metadata\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/ent.news\/audio\/2025\/10\/.2f682afd-a166-4ba0-bb06-8c7048c09794.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure><p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Good morning ladies and gentlemen<\/strong>, today we are very proud to launch the first issue of our four-part weekly special series, Unveiling the GEM. We often take for granted the vast amount of treasures that sit right at our doorstep and it takes a global cultural event like the opening of the world\u2019s largest museum for a single civilization to remind us that Egypt is a truly magical place.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">In September 2017 EnterpriseAM was invited to take a sneak peek at the museum and ever since we have been mesmerized. You can read the story, <strong>\u201cA day at the Grand Egyptian Museum,\u201d<\/strong> <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/enterprise.press\/2017\/09\/19\/day-grand-egyptian-museum\/\" style=\"\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>. At the time, we reported that the USD 1 bn museum was targeting a soft opening in mid-2018 and a full launch in 2022. The 2018 deadline slipped and in 2020 COVID shut down the world.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">By the end of 2022 however the world and the GEM began to slowly come back to life. We proudly hosted the <strong>\u2018Enterprise Climate X Forum\u2019<\/strong> our first ever event focused on climate finance and the second event ever to be hosted at the GEM. Since then the museum has been gradually opening up spaces and exhibits to the public. Already living up to its promise to become a hub for culture and knowledge, the GEM has hosted dozens of conferences, art exhibits, gala dinners, and opera performances, visitors and attendees have taken hundreds of thousands of selfies by the Ramses II statue, and this is just the beginning.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">IN ANTICIPATION-<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"> <strong>The highly anticipated opening in Egypt and around the world is expected to be attended by kings, leaders, presidents, and high-level delegations from around 60 countries<\/strong> \u2014 including Spain, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Norway, Japan, Qatar, and the UAE.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>ICYMI- Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly announced the opening day<\/strong> \u2014 Saturday, 1 November \u2014 a paid day off for public sector workers.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Want to visit the museum soon? <\/strong>The museum will reopen to the public starting Tuesday, 4 November. You can <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/visit-gem.com\/en\/GEMIntro\" style=\"\" rel=\"noopener\">purchase your admission and guided tour ticket<\/a> through the museum\u2019s website.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>\u201cThe museum will capture your hearts \u2014 both young and old,\u201d<\/strong> Archaeologist and former Minister of Antiquities Zahi Hawass told EnterpriseAM. Hawass extended an invitation to foreign visitors, urging them to come witness Egypt\u2019s living history, adding that King Ramses II will stand in majestic welcome to all guests from around the world, greeting them beneath one roof where the grandeur and creativity of Egyptian civilization come together.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The GEM is expected to attract 4\u20135 mn visitors annually once it officially opens<\/strong>, former Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mostafa Waziri told us. He noted that, in addition to the treasures of Tutankhamun, the Grand Egyptian Museum will, for the first time, display 31 colorful coffins discovered in the Al Asasif cache, as well as new excavations from Saqqara that will be unveiled to the public for the first time.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The opening ceremony will also feature a special musical composition titled \u201cMessage for Peace\u201d<\/strong>, written by composer Hisham Nazih and conducted by maestro Nayer Nagui, with the participation of 121 Egyptian artists alongside musicians from 70 countries.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The Finance Ministry will issue six commemorative gold and silver coins marking the inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum<\/strong>, Sherif Hazem Mansour, Engineering Advisor to the Minister of Finance, told us. Each coin is designed to reflect unique artifacts and symbols from the museum\u2019s collection \u2014 \u201ca tribute to Egypt\u2019s ancient civilization and a gift from Egypt to the world.\u201d The new coins will be issued in denominations of one, five, ten, 20, 50, and 100 pounds, with 500 units produced of each denomination to be sold as souvenirs. Mansour added that plans are also underway to mint circulating coins in the future to commemorate the historic occasion.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/10\/1604.jpg?ssl=1\"\/><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">\n<hr style=\"height:2px;border-width:0;color:gray;background-color:gray\">\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>IN THIS MORNING\u2019S ISSUE- <\/strong>We will tell the story behind the creation of the museum, the long journey it has taken to reach its long-awaited opening, the engineering brilliance and design philosophy it embodies, and how Egyptologists see in it a new opportunity for Egypt to retell its historical narrative.<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/countdown\/\">COUNTDOWN<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/the-grand-egyptian-museum\/\">The Grand Egyptian Museum<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"674482 advertiser\" class=\"issue-section enterprise-adv\">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                            \"\r\n            id=\"674482\">\r\n            \r\n            <div class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/29\/674482\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                                            <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-674482\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-674482 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-advertiser wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight:400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/orascom.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/ads\/imgs\/403.jpg?ssl=1\"><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"674483\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"674483\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">2<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">THE BACKSTORY<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/29\/out-of-the-storeroom\/\">\r\n                            Out of the storeroom                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/29\/out-of-the-storeroom\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); navigator.clipboard.writeText('https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/29\/out-of-the-storeroom\/')\">\n                    Copy Link                <\/a>\n\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/29\/out-of-the-storeroom\/\">\n                    Facebook                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/facebook-icon2.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/intent\/post?text=Out of the storeroom&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/29\/out-of-the-storeroom\/\">\n                    X                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/twitter-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/29\/out-of-the-storeroom\/&title=Out of the storeroom\">\n                    LinkedIn                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/linkedin-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?text=Out+of+the+storeroom+https%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseam.com%2Fegypt%2F2025%2F10%2F29%2Fout-of-the-storeroom%2F\">\n                    WhatsApp                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/whatsapp-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n    <\/div>\n        <\/div>\r\n                    \r\n                <\/div>\r\n\r\n            \r\n            <div class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/29\/out-of-the-storeroom\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/10\/1614.jpg?fit=1568%2C9999&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"674484\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/29\/out-of-the-storeroom\/1614-jpg-11\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/10\/1614.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"1614.jpg\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/10\/1614.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/10\/1614.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-674483\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-674483 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-the-backstory tag-gem_edition tag-the-backstory tag-the-grand-egyptian-museum wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-audio mb-0\"><audio controls preload=\"metadata\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/ent.news\/audio\/2025\/11\/.5f80f839-b6ca-4ef9-9400-eaeed0082d14.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure><p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"> <strong>Some 33 years ago, a triggering remark rekindled the dream of the Grand Egyptian Museum.<\/strong> In 1992, former Culture Minister Farouk Hosni was visiting France when an Italian artist asked him, \u201cWhat will you do with that storeroom you have?\u201d Hosni replied quickly, \u201cWe will build the largest museum in the world.\u201d His answer wasn\u2019t a spur-of-the-moment remark \u2014 he had been thinking about it for some time, but the Italian man\u2019s words pushed him to say it aloud.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Hosni knew that the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square had become little more than a <\/strong><strong>storage space<\/strong> \u2014 unsuitable for displaying colossal statues, too small to house the massive number of artifacts, and lacking the kind of museum experience worthy of ancient Egyptian civilization. \u201cGo ahead,\u201d said then-President Hosni Mubarak to his culture minister, marking the start of the journey to create the Grand Egyptian Museum.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Hosni chose the location, just two kilometers from the Giza <\/strong><strong>Pyramids<\/strong>, to provide visitors with a unique experience. In 1993, the Egyptian Ministry of Culture invited Italy to collaborate on the project, and a joint Egyptian-Italian commission was formed. A few years later, the Italian side completed an extensive eight-volume feasibility study.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>In 2002, the foundation stone of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza was laid, and<\/strong><strong> construction began in 2005.<\/strong> Under the sponsorship of UNESCO and the International Union of Architects, an international architectural competition was held to select the museum\u2019s design. Out of 1,557 proposals submitted by designers from 83 countries, the jury selected the winning concept by Heneghan Peng Architects, whose concept envisioned the museum\u2019s structure as a conical form aligned with the rays of the sun extending from the peaks of the three pyramids.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>In 2006, Egypt established the largest artifact restoration center in the Middle East <\/strong>\u2014 dedicated to restoring, preserving, and preparing the artifacts destined for the museum\u2019s exhibition halls. The center officially opened in 2010.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>In 2012, Egypt launched the third phase <\/strong>\u2014 the construction of the main building \u2014 housing the museum\u2019s galleries, theaters, conservation labs, educational and cultural centers, and a state-of-the-art IT and communications infrastructure.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>In 2016, the government decided to establish a public authority for the museum and assigned the Armed Forces Engineering Authority to oversee its construction<\/strong> \u2014 a move that helped accelerate progress in the following years.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Today, the museum\u2019s grounds cover a total of 500k sqm. <\/strong>That is roughly the size of 70 soccer fields or twice the size of the Louvre, making it one of the most ambitious cultural projects ever undertaken. Among its highlights:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>27k sqm: The Hanging Obelisk Plaza \u2014 the museum\u2019s dramatic entryway.<\/li>\n<li>6k sqm: The Grand Staircase, lined with 87 colossal statues leading visitors toward the exhibition halls.<\/li>\n<li>7.5k sqm: The Tutankhamun Gallery, showcasing 5,000 artifacts \u2014 displayed together for the first time since Howard Carter\u2019s 1922 discovery.<\/li>\n<li>18k sqm: Permanent exhibition halls featuring thousands of artifacts across multiple galleries.<\/li>\n<li>1.4k sqm: The Solar Boats Museum, displaying both Khufu\u2019s reconstructed vessels.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The museum\u2019s restoration center \u2014 the largest in the Middle East \u2014 is located 10 meters <\/strong><strong>below ground and spans 12.3k sqm<\/strong>, while storage facilities covering 3.4k sqm can accommodate up to 50k artifacts, all equipped with the latest climate-control and security systems.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The largest source of funding for the GEM comes from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) <\/strong>which has provided two loans in 2008 and 2016 worth USD 800 mn. JICA\u2019s contribution also covers technical cooperation agreements including the training of conservators who work in the museum\u2019s state-of-the art conservation center. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>JICA is also providing a USD 733 mn loan to finance the construction of Cairo Metro Line <\/strong><strong>4<\/strong>, which will link the heart of Cairo with Giza, including the Pyramids and the GEM making the museum more accessible.<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/the-backstory\/\">THE BACKSTORY<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/the-grand-egyptian-museum\/\">The Grand Egyptian Museum<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"674485 advertiser\" class=\"issue-section enterprise-adv\">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                            \"\r\n            id=\"674485\">\r\n            \r\n            <div class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/29\/674485\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                                            <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-674485\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-674485 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-advertiser wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight:400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aaib.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/ads\/imgs\/401.jpg?ssl=1\"><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"674486\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"674486\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">3<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">THE BUILDERS<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/29\/from-blueprint-to-landmark-orascom-construction-and-besix-on-engineering-a-new-wonder-of-egypt\/\">\r\n                            From blueprint to landmark: Orascom Construction and BESIX on engineering a new wonder of Egypt                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/29\/from-blueprint-to-landmark-orascom-construction-and-besix-on-engineering-a-new-wonder-of-egypt\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); 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Together, Orascom Construction and BESIX&nbsp;(50%-owned by Orascom Construction) led the full construction of the museum, tackling everything from structural works and advanced MEP systems to creating climate-controlled environments for over 20,000 artefacts, a feat of engineering and coordination on a scale rarely seen.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>EnterpriseAM: What were the biggest logistical or coordination challenges you encountered?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>De Kinde<\/strong><strong>r: The building\u2019s layout is extremely complex<\/strong>. It is not just a museum, but also a conference center, entrance court, library, children\u2019s museum, 3D experience, ticketing building, and restaurants.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>We had to manage multiple workfronts simultaneously with limited space, coordinating <\/strong><strong>logistics and material supply to all areas. <\/strong>There was a batching plant on site, workshops for carpentry and steel, and we had to deliver everything on time.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The war in Ukraine and Covid disrupted supply chains.<\/strong> Many materials, especially MEP systems like chillers and coolers, came from abroad.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>However, all the stones \u2014 over 200k sqm, equivalent to 40 football fields \u2014 were sourced locally from Aswan and Sinai<\/strong>, reducing the impact of disruptions. The stone was used for internal and external flooring and wall cladding.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>EnterpriseAM: The museum\u2019s geometry is famous for its complexity. How did that affect construction?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>De Kinder: The architect aligned the building\u2019s axes with the pyramid peaks and at an angle toward downtown Cairo. <\/strong>So, nothing is parallel or perpendicular \u2014 every stone, beam, and column is unique.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>This required continuous surveying to ensure everything was positioned correctly. <\/strong>The non-repetitive geometry affected every phase \u2014 excavation, structure, finishing, and MEP.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">The concept beautifully links ancient Giza to modern Cairo, but it made the project far more demanding. Even logistics were affected: if one package of stones was delayed, it couldn\u2019t be replaced, since no two pieces were identical.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>EnterpriseAM: From an engineering perspective, what unique construction methods did <\/strong><strong>you use to execute the project?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>De Kinder: This was the first project in Egypt to use Building Information Modeling (BIM) <\/strong><strong>on such a large scale. <\/strong>It\u2019s a 3D model we built to coordinate all technical systems and avoid clashes between pipes, conduits, cable trays, and openings, while ensuring enough height under the false ceiling. Given the building\u2019s complexity, BIM was essential.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Kyrillos: At one point, 64 engineers were working only on BIM. It was revolutionary at th<\/strong><strong>e time. <\/strong>Today BIM is standard, but in 2012 it was truly special. And because of the museum\u2019s size, we divided it into four sections, each with its own project manager. At the center is what\u2019s now the Grand Stair \u2014 originally just a road for heavy equipment to access all four buildings. The museum was divided into two sections, and the conference building into two as well.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>We also installed 16 tower cranes equipped with anti-collision systems to ensure safe operations.<\/strong> Each crane operated within a coordinated control system, monitored by engineers on screens to guarantee harmony on site.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>EnterpriseAM: How did ancient Egyptian heritage influence the materials and design?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Kyrillos: The main raw materials \u2014 Aswan granite and Sinai travertine \u2014 are the same <\/strong><strong>stones used in ancient Egypt. <\/strong>The design required their use for cladding and flooring to reflect the spirit of ancient architecture. Travertine was used for cladding and flooring, granite for flooring, and sometimes for cladding in bathrooms and restaurants.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>EnterpriseAM: Did you also have to deal with ancient artifacts during the project?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Kyrillos: The closest was the obelisk.<\/strong> We received it in four pieces and assembled it into one, it\u2019s now the world\u2019s only suspended obelisk. Normally, an obelisk stands on the ground and connects to the heavens, but this one is suspended so visitors can see the king\u2019s cartouche at its base.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>De Kinder: Also transporting the Solar Boat <\/strong>\u2014 the world\u2019s oldest wooden artifact, 4,500 years old \u2014 from the pyramids to GEM.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>It was moved in a sealed, climate-controlled container to preserve the wood by controlling&nbsp;<\/strong><strong>temperature and humidity<\/strong> before being installed in its new location. That was the closest we came to ancient Egypt itself.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>EnterpriseAM: What other innovations or breakthroughs stand out to you?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>De Kinder: One of the first techniques used in Africa was the double glass facade<\/strong>, supported by prestressed cables at the pyramid-end galleries, giving a stunning view of the Giza pyramids. We also used massive, prestressed concrete and cantilevers of over 26.5 meters, with ceilings reaching 33 meters to accommodate colossal statues.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The most challenging part was the folded roof<\/strong> \u2014 each pyramid-shaped form was unique in height, inclination, width, and length. It had to be cast in white concrete with patterned undersides, making every formwork completely custom.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Kyrillos: Each pyramid was different, so every formwork had to be fabricated specifically for one pyramid, dismantled, and remade for the next. Very sophisticated work.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>EnterpriseAM: How extensive was international cooperation on the project?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Kyrillos: We had around 1k subcontractors and suppliers<\/strong>, including 315 subcontractors,&nbsp; amongst which there were several international ones from Germany, Italy, Spain, England, and Turkey.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>EnterpriseAM: Over thirteen years on site, what were some of the most memorable moments?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Kyrillos: One of the most unforgettable moments was the relocation of King Ramses II statue to its permenant location at the entrance court in the museum building i<\/strong><strong>n 2018<\/strong> \u2014 it has been brought inside then we started building the museum around it. The roof span in this area is 100 meters with no columns. We lifted a huge steel truss above Ramses II and surrounded the statue with concrete blocks to protect it during construction.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The Solar Boat Museum followed the same sequence<\/strong> \u2014 the artifact was relocated first, then the structure was built around it.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>EnterpriseAM: How was the museum engineered to last for generations? What sustainability or smart systems were built in?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Kyrillos: <\/strong>Normal buildings are usually built by using a concrete strength of 350kg\/cm2, however, in this project we used a concrete strength of 500kg\/cm2. To fulfill this aim, we used additives like fly ash to maintain durability.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">Further, one of the main items that are usually skipped in social media is the huge electromechanical works installed in GEM that cost around one third of the total cost of the project.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The project includes 45 electromechanical systems, which is very sophisticated, <\/strong><strong>including a massive energy center located away from the museum and connected via tunnels<\/strong>. It houses the chillers, generators, fire pumps, water pumps, substations, and switchgears. It&nbsp;houses Chillers, Cooling Towers, Boilers, Generators, Fire Pumps, Water Pumps, Substations, and Switchgears, etc.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>De Kinder: Our scope included everything except handling the artifacts themselves. <\/strong>Every showcase in the museum has its own microclimate control system, with defined humidity and temperature ranges.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>All are linked to a central Building Management System (BMS) that monitors conditions<\/strong><strong> in real time. <\/strong>If there\u2019s a deviation \u2014 like a leak, a temperature shift, or even if someone touches a showcase \u2014 the system triggers an alarm for maintenance. It\u2019s a sophisticated setup that ensures the artifacts are preserved under ideal conditions for generations.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>EnterpriseAM: What\u2019s one feature of the museum you would recommend visitors explore in detail?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Kyrillos: We also have to talk about the Pyramid Wall<\/strong> \u2014 one of the museum\u2019s most iconic features. In the original design, it was a blind wall, which would have cost an enormous amount of money.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The Pyramid Wall, visible from the main road, is composed of three elements:<\/strong> the tail wall, the glazing facade, and the GA-wall \u2014 the main wall. Its total length is 800 meters, with height varying from 7.5 to 47.5 meters.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Each stone in the wall is unique<\/strong>, every piece had to be fabricated to specific dimensions to fit together perfectly. Inside the wall there are lighting fixtures and indirect illumination to create a spectacular nighttime effect.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>And of course, there\u2019s the Tutankhamun Gallery <\/strong>\u2014 one of the museum\u2019s crown jewels. It holds around 5,500 artifacts. The gallery is divided into two bands (A and B) and five theme about King Tut, as follows:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Discovery;<\/li>\n<li>His lifestyle;<\/li>\n<li>His rebirth;<\/li>\n<li>His funeral;<\/li>\n<li>His identity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>This is the only gallery that remains to be unveiled with the official inauguration of the GEM on Nov 1. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/besix\/\">BESIX<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/orascom-construction\/\">Orascom Construction<\/a>\n                <!-- <span 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<\/div>\r\n                    \r\n                <\/div>\r\n\r\n            \r\n            <div class=\"story__body\">\r\n\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/29\/the-minds-behind-the-gems-landscape-and-architectural-narrative\/\">\r\n                    <div class=\"photo photo--above\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/10\/1576.jpg?fit=1568%2C9999&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-attachment-id=\"674490\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/29\/the-minds-behind-the-gems-landscape-and-architectural-narrative\/1576-jpg-8\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/10\/1576.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"1576.jpg\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/10\/1576.jpg?fit=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ent.news\/2025\/10\/1576.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n\r\n                \n<article id=\"post-674489\" class=\"content-area-description single-story post-674489 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-the-visionaries tag-gem_edition tag-the-grand-egyptian-museum tag-the-visionaries wpautop entry\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"entry-content\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-audio mb-0\"><audio controls preload=\"metadata\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/ent.news\/audio\/2025\/10\/.2f682afd-a166-4ba0-bb06-8c7048c09794.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"> <strong>When the GEM opens its doors next week, visitors will experience far more than a<\/strong><strong> collection of artifacts. They will walk through a carefully orchestrated journey<\/strong> that begins long before they enter the building \u2014 one that literally connects the ancient Nile floodplain to the Giza Plateau, and metaphorically links the world of the living to the realm of the afterlife. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Two decades in the making, the Grand Egyptian Museum required unprecedented <\/strong><strong>collaboration between landscape architects and exhibition designers<\/strong> to create a museum that honors both ancient traditions and contemporary innovation. This fusion of landscape and narrative is the result of an extraordinary collaboration between world-class design studios, including the Netherlands\u2019 West 8, Germany\u2019s Atelier Br\u00fcckner, and the UK\u2019s Buro Happold.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>These firms worked alongside Heneghan Peng Architects and a diverse team of Egyptian <\/strong><strong>and international experts to solve a problem that would have been unthinkable in simpler times:<\/strong> how do you create a museum for 5k years of civilization on a UNESCO World Heritage site, designed to accommodate mns of visitors annually, without disturbing the geological plateau upon which the pyramids themselves were built?<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The answer, according to Adriaan Geuze, co-founder and design director of West 8<\/strong><strong>, began with a radical act of restraint.<\/strong> Rather than imposing a structure onto the landscape, the team sank the museum into the plateau itself so that the geological body upon which the pyramids were built would not be affected, Geuze explains: \u201cThe expansive facade became the architectural equivalent of the geological cliff edge positioned on the original Nile floodplain.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>This wasn\u2019t just an engineering solution \u2014 it was a landscape architecture statement<\/strong><strong> about Egypt\u2019s relationship with its own history. <\/strong>The 800-meter-long facade now functions as a continuation of the natural cliff face, while the broad, greened forecourt tells the story of the ancient Nile floodplain that once allowed the pyramid\u2019s blocks to be transported by ship. Date palms dot the 5-hectare outdoor exhibition space, creating what West 8 calls \u201csecond nature\u201d landscapes that bridge ancient agricultural traditions with contemporary sustainable design.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The entrance itself is choreographed like an archeological discovery.<\/strong> Visitors are drawn under the facade at an angle into the triangular Grand Hall, passing obelisks and shaded security checkpoints that manage crowd flow while maintaining the dignity of arrival at one of the world\u2019s most significant cultural sites.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Perhaps most remarkably, the landscape design incorporates what Geuze calls <\/strong><strong>\u201cauthentic mummification plants\u201d <\/strong>identified through collaboration with archeological scientists using pollen and DNA analysis. Within the pharaonic gardens \u2014 a series of papyrus pools and temple gardens positioned beneath extended walls \u2014 these species function as outdoor exhibits, allowing visitors to encounter the actual plants used in ancient preservation processes, all framed by views towards the pyramids.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>From the drawing board to the museum floor: <\/strong>\u201cFrom large-scale design choices such as the repositioning of the 11-meter-high red granite status of Ramses II from Cairo\u2019s Station Square, to these shaded pharaonic gardens, many of the original design aspects [from the early concepts of the GEM] are still clearly visible today,\u201d Geuze notes, reflecting on a project that has spanned political upheaval, economic challenges, and a global pandemic.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>If West 8 created the physical and symbolic foundation of the GEM, Atelier Br\u00fcckner built <\/strong><strong>the stage upon which 5k years of civilization would perform.<\/strong> For Shirin Frangoul-Br\u00fcckner, co-founder and managing director of the Stuttgart-based firm, the challenge wasn\u2019t simply displaying objects \u2014 it was creating what she calls \u201cnarrative architecture\u201d that transforms content into structure.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Nowhere is this more evident than in the Tutankhamun Gallery, where Atelier Br\u00fcckner <\/strong><strong>faced an unprecedented curatorial challenge:<\/strong> presenting the complete Tutankhamun collection together for the first time in history. Unlike traditional exhibitions where curators select highlights, everything had to be shown. Rather than treating this as a limitation, Frangoul-Br\u00fcckner\u2019s team saw an opportunity to tell the complete story of the boy king, his world, and the beliefs that shaped ancient Egyptian civilization.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Their solution was elegantly simple yet profoundly meaningful. <\/strong>Two design elements structure the entire spatial narrative: the Curatorial Path, a continuous black floor panel that holds all objects, and the Path of the Sun, a light band guiding visitors along the ceiling. Inspired by ancient Egyptian mythology, the Path of the Sun symbolizes the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. \u201cThe two lines structure the journey through the gallery, connecting life, death, and the afterlife,\u201d Frangoul-Br\u00fcckner explains. \u201cWe wanted this exhibition to feel like an inlay within the monumental architecture, seamlessly embedded yet self-contained, telling the story through the rhythm of light and space.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Light itself became the exhibition\u2019s central design element \u2014 both metaphor and <\/strong><strong>material.<\/strong> In Egyptian mythology, light and sun embody renewal and eternity, making it the perfect frame for objects of immeasurable cultural value. This approach proved remarkably prescient, creating a timeless design that has remained relevant despite the project\u2019s extended timeline and rapid advances in museum technology between 2003 and 2025.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Between West 8\u2019s landscape and Atelier Br\u00fcckner\u2019s galleries lies something equally <\/strong><strong>extraordinary that most visitors might overlook: the building envelope itself.<\/strong> This is where Buro Happold\u2019s engineering becomes the silent guardian of both artifacts and experience, creating the conditions that make everything else possible. \u201cThe main challenge for us was ensuring the building was visually striking enough to stand tall against the backdrop of Egypt\u2019s legendary pyramids, while also representing a symbol of successful sustainable design,\u201d explains Stephen Jolly, project principal for the cultural sector at Buro Happold.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The solution was what Jolly calls a \u201cpassive approach\u201d to building environmental design<\/strong> \u2014 a heavyweight thermal box nestled into the bank of the Nile floodplain and shaded on all sides to keep the heat away. The translucent entrance wall and undulating metal mesh roof create an isolation system so effective that while the roof can reach temperatures exceeding 70\u00b0C, the internal galleries remain at a comfortable 23\u00b0C.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>This environment-aware construction means the architecture itself protects artifacts <\/strong><strong>from aging and overexposure while significantly reducing energy consumption.<\/strong> It\u2019s a principle Buro Happold has refined over nearly 50 years of delivering sustainable solutions in Middle Eastern climates, brought to its fullest expression at the GEM.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>But the passive design extends far beyond temperature control.<\/strong> Every step of the visitor journey incorporates environmental thinking: ticketing entrances designed for shade, water features strategically placed to cool the environment, a courtyard expertly sheltered from extreme wind and sun, and recycled cooling from the galleries that increases comfort as visitors travel up staircases. <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Even the series of glass screens hung across the grand staircase function as both an <\/strong><strong>artistic element and thermal buffer<\/strong>, allowing air temperature to cool significantly without closing the doors between courtyards and galleries. \u201cIt is unusual to get the opportunity to house precious collections of art in galleries where the doors are consistently open to the outside,\u201d Jolly notes. \u201cThe fact the Museum is able to maintain the right conditions using a small amount of energy without closing the doors is definitely an architectural achievement.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The engineering challenges extended to visitor safety as well.<\/strong> In the main exhibition gallery \u2014 a vast open area \u2014 Buro Happold\u2019s fire engineering team developed a performance-based strategy that demonstrates how all occupants can be safely evacuated while using the voids inside the undulating roof to facilitate smoke extraction. It\u2019s the kind of integrated thinking that makes engineering invisible to visitors while being fundamental to their experience.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The architecture of collaboration:<\/strong> All three studios emphasize that the GEM\u2019s success stems from an unconventional collaborative process. Following the 2002 competition, a large international team formed under the leadership of <strong>Dr. Yasser Mansour<\/strong>, comprising historians, archaeologists, tourism and security experts, exhibition designers, engineers, planners and local architects, including Egyptian consultants <strong>SITES<\/strong>. The team met almost every three weeks over two decades to navigate the project\u2019s immense complexity.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The integration of multiple disciplines from the earliest stages proved essential. <\/strong>Buro Happold ensured that a specialist on-site conservation center and sitewide energy center were completed several years before the museum itself, meaning that as artifacts arrived, they could be processed and temporarily stored before being eventually installed in new galleries.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Atelier Br\u00fcckner joined through an international selection process in late 2016<\/strong>, quickly assembling a dedicated team of 25 experts who completed the concept through tendering in just six months \u2014 a timeline that would typically take years. \u201cwhat truly enabled us to meet the impossible timeline was our shared dedication to the project supported by the outstanding collaboration with [our] Egyptian colleagues,\u201d Frangoul-Br\u00fcckner recalls. \u201c there was a strong decisive culture of cooperation, which made all the difference.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>For Geuze, this collaborative spirit extended to resolving complex technical challenges<\/strong><strong> on a weekly basis:<\/strong> traffic layout, shade and crowd management, security protocols, water availability for trees, irrigation techniques and landscape maintenance. Yet through all these practical concerns the triangular grid and sight lines toward the pyramids remained constant points of departure.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The interruptions \u2014 construction halts during the 2011 revolution, financial setbacks, <\/strong><strong>evolving sustainability standards \u2014 tested the team\u2019s resolve. <\/strong>\u201cThe interruptions in the design process were certainly a challenge,\u201d Jolly acknowledges, \u201cbut the strength of the concepts and their integrated nature have ensured that the delivered building is very true to the original vision.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>A cultural and environmental landmark for the 21st Century:<\/strong> As Egypt aims to attract 30 mn tourists by 2028, the GEM represents far more than a repository for artifacts. It embodies a new model for how nations can honor their cultural heritage while building economic futures and addressing environmental imperatives. \u201cThe Grand Egyptian Museum represents the pinnacle of modern architecture able to combine historical prestige and expert construction,\u201d Jolly reflects. \u201cFrom our perspective, it's also an excellent representation of successfully integrating sustainability and environmentally conscious design into the initial phases of construction.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The museum's design demonstrates that the most ambitious cultural projects require not<\/strong><strong> just architectural brilliance, but the patience to collaborate across disciplines, cultures, and decades. <\/strong>It shows that engineering is an integral part of creating building concepts, not something layered on afterward, that passive design based on timeless first principles can be enhanced with the latest energy and control systems, and that sustainable museum design in extreme climates is not just possible, but exemplary.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The objects themselves may be ancient but the stage on which they perform is<\/strong><strong> thoroughly contemporary<\/strong>, built by designers and engineers who understood that to honour eternity you must first be willing to invest your own time \u2014 and do so with a commitment to sustainability that ensures the museum can endure for his generations to come.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>\u201cWe hope that the low carbon conservation approach adopted for GEM will serve as an<\/strong> <strong>exemplar<\/strong><strong> for conservation science,\u201d<\/strong> Jolly says. It's a fitting aspiration for a museum that proves the future of cultural heritage depends on respecting both the wisdom of the past and the environmental realities of tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/the-grand-egyptian-museum\/\">The Grand Egyptian Museum<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/the-visionaries\/\">THE VISIONARIES<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"674491\" class=\"issue-section \">\n<div class=\"issue-section__content\">\n<div class=\"stories\">            <!-- Show divider before story section -->\r\n        <div \r\n            class=\"\r\n                story-section            \"\r\n            id=\"674491\">\r\n            \r\n                <div class=\"issue-story-header text-center\">\r\n                    <div class=\"index-number\">5<\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <p class=\"f-graphik\">UNDER MAGNIFIER<\/p>\r\n                    <h3 class=\"story-title\">\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/29\/reclaiming-the-narrative\/\">\r\n                            Reclaiming the narrative                        <\/a>\r\n                    <\/h3>\r\n\r\n                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"cta\">\n    <div class=\"cta__btn share-dropdown-cta dropdown-toggle-btn\" style=\"position:relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ent.news\/internal\/408834.svg\" alt=\"\">\n        Share Story\n        <!-- Dropdown Menu -->\n        <ul class=\"share-menu\">\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/10\/29\/reclaiming-the-narrative\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                    Open in new tab                    <!-- <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"assets\/media\/placeholder\/svg\/new-tab.svg\" alt=\"\"> -->\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n            <li class=\"list-inline-item\">\n                <a href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); 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She is a pioneer in her field, notably being the first Egyptian woman to earn a PhD in Egyptology (from Oxford University in 1965). She was also the first Egyptian woman to work in Nubia during the UNESCO Campaign to salvage monuments threatened by the construction of the Aswan High Dam and became the first female President of the International Association of Egyptologists in 1988.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Haikal served as a deputy jury member for the international architectural competition <\/strong><strong>that selected the design for the GEM<\/strong> in the early 2000\u2019s and was later involved in the academic planning for the museum, which included moving and displaying some of the collections.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>\u201cThe museum has been open for a long time now without actually being open,\u201d<\/strong> Haikal says. \u201cMany people have had the chance to experience some of its galleries already. Without a doubt, the modern architecture, the technology, and the sheer vastness of the space is a marvel and there is space for more which was precisely the idea behind building it. Egypt still has much to unveil under the ground.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The repatriation of artifacts is a sticky political issue which isn\u2019t likely to be resolved anytime soon, with or without the GEM<\/strong>, she adds.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>\u201cWe need to make sure that Egyptians feel that they are part of the narrative. <\/strong>The world\u2019s eyes are on us, we will have more visitors because of this huge accomplishment, but we need to not neglect the fact that this is an Egyptian story and ordinary Egyptians need to feel like they are not excluded. If the GEM manages to instill a sense of pride in Egyptians and sparks their curiosity to learn more about their ancient past, that would be a true achievement.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">SALIMA IKRAM<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Salima Ikram is a renowned Pakistani scholar and archaeologist who has participated in <\/strong><strong>many archaeological projects in Egypt, Turkey, Sudan, Greece, and the United States<\/strong>. She is currently a Distinguished University Professor of Egyptology at AUC and a Research Fellow at the Smithsonian\u2019s Natural History Museum. Her research interests include funerary archaeology (especially mummification), the role of animals in ancient Egypt (archaeozoology), daily life, rock art, and cultural heritage and museology.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>There are two things that particularly stand out for Ikram<\/strong>, the first is the museum\u2019s star attraction, the Tutankhamun galleries.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">\u201c<strong>The entire Tutankhamun collection will be displayed in one area for the first time<\/strong> which will allow visitors to experience the richness of the tomb and better understand \u2014 from both the grand beautiful things to the humble items \u2014 what a pharaoh thought was important and what their daily life might have looked like. It will allow us to extrapolate based on these objects. It really takes us from the very basics to the extreme heights of understanding religion.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>\u201cThe second thing that\u2019s really important is the GEM conservation and research labs,\u201d<\/strong> says Ikram who has herself worked in the labs that have been open since 2010. \u201cMy friend Andr\u00e9 J. Veldmeijer [Dutch archaeologist] and I were fortunate enough to have carried out research there while we were working on some of the Tut materials.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The GEM labs use state-of-the-art technology and machinery like those used by the <\/strong><strong>world\u2019s top institutions <\/strong>such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the British Museum, according to Ikram. The availability of the new technology has helped researchers and conservators dig deeper and learn new things about ancient Egyptian scientific prowess as new materials are identified and pieced together to tell new stories about trade networks, religious ideology, and daily life in ancient Egypt.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>\u201cThe collections and objects that have been on display thus far are phenomenal <\/strong>and the lighting makes it so much easier to view them, so it has been a treat to be able to enjoy and appreciate some of ancient Egypt\u2019s finest works of art,\u201d says Ikram.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>The opening of the GEM coincides with global conversations about the repatriation of <\/strong><strong>Egyptian artifacts including archival materials now that there is a proper place to house them.<\/strong> \u201cI feel that archival material is very tricky and that it should not all be in one place because it's too risky. But I do think copies should be sent to Egypt if they are not online,\u201d said Ikram. \u201cAs for the return of artifacts, I think it depends. Many artifacts should stay where they are because they act as Egypt\u2019s best ambassadors both socially and economically. There are of course certain artifacts like the Bust of Queen Nefertiti in Germany that should be returned.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>\u201cI hope to see the GEM develop as not just a place to view artifacts. <\/strong>It should be integrated into daily life and remain a hub of cooperation where Egyptian colleagues can work alongside their foreign counterparts to reveal more about this extraordinary and scintillating civilization.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\">\n<p class=\"tag-border-left\">MONICA HANNA<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Monica Hanna is a prominent Egyptian archaeologist, Egyptologist, and cultural heritage <\/strong><strong>activist<\/strong> known for her strong advocacy for the decolonization of Egyptology and the repatriation of key Egyptian objects held in foreign museums. She is the author of the book, The Future of Egyptology, where she presents a vision for reclaiming Egypt\u2019s lost heritage. She holds a BA in Egyptology and Archaeological Chemistry from AUC and a PhD in archaeology from the University of Pisa, Italy. Hanna is currently the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the American University in Baghdad.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>Hanna has intentionally not yet visited the GEM galleries that have been open for the past year <\/strong>because she wants to see things with fresh eyes and experience the museum in its entirety.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>\u201cThe world knows more about our ancient culture than we do and that needs to change,\u201d <\/strong>says Hanna. \u201cThis will require a different policy towards heritage management and towards the past, it\u2019s not a job for the museum alone. It will take at least 5 years post-inauguration to really be able to judge the impact. Will the museum just be nice displays for tourists or is it an Egyptian public space where heritage is negotiated, where the present and the past meet through art, exhibitions and academic work?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>You can\u2019t judge a book by its cover. <\/strong>While the grandeur of the space and the overwhelming amount and beauty of the treasures that it houses is undisputable, Hanna is careful before passing final judgement. \u201cAs a scholar, I\u2019m waiting to see how accessible the museum will be to researchers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>\u201cHaving an institution like the GEM strengthens our position when it comes to the <\/strong><strong>repatriation of artifacts, <\/strong>but we don\u2019t just want the objects back, we want to repatriate the agency of Egyptians to produce knowledge about the past,\u201d said Hanna who puts forth the premise that \u201cthe knowledge is more precious than the gold.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1.15;orphans:2;widows:2;text-align:left\"><strong>\u201cI would like to see the GEM as a space for knowledge production.\u201d <\/strong>For Hanna that doesn\u2019t just mean access for researchers, it also means seeing things like weekly public lectures on different aspects of ancient Egypt, hosting exhibitions that blend art and antiquity linking ancient and modern Egypt and making the museum accessible for more Egyptians by coming up with a pricing mechanism that makes it more affordable. \u201cI think the museum should be free to the public one day a month, for example.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div><!-- .entry-content -->\n\n\t\n<\/article><!-- #post-${ID} -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"tags-section\">\n        <div class=\"f-graphik\">Tags:<\/div>\n        <div class=\"tags-list\">\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/the-grand-egyptian-museum\/\">The Grand Egyptian Museum<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                            <a rel=\"tag\" href=\"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/tag\/under-magnifier\/\">UNDER MAGNIFIER<\/a>\n                <!-- <span class=\"sep\">,&nbsp;<\/span> -->\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div> <!-- \/.story -->\r\n    \n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":674479,"template":"","categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-674478","gem","type-gem","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","wpautop","entry"],"acf":{"mongo_id":"afaeb56d-3dfa-4cc5-bb25-04efd21bf58f","teaser":"","photo_url":"https:\/\/ent.news\/2025\/10\/1627.jpg"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - 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