GREAT EGYPTIAN MUSEUM
Giza, Egypt
Design Competition

Design: 2002
925,000 sq. ft.

What if the architecture of the museum is formed by the spatial exchange between ground and sky? Occupiable pylons striate the site, while a canopy of solar-collecting glass collects and filters sunlight. The dynamic interplay between these two elements creates a new museum landscape. A canopy of glass embedded with photovoltaic film provides enclosure, filtered light, and a source of energy for the museum. A structural grid of inverted glass-clad cones supports a space frame, creating an updated version of a hypostyle hall. Larger voids in the canopy bring exterior spaces to the interior of the museum, providing courtyards for exterior display and moments of rest.