Shirin Frangoul-Brückner, co-founder and managing director of ATELIER BRÜCKNER, describes the Grand Egyptian Museum as “a world museum – a project of the century.” With its opening, the complete tomb treasures of the legendary boy king Tutankhamun will be presented to the public for the first time, over 100 years after their discovery in the Valley of the Kings.
“Designing the Tutankhamun Gallery was a unique opportunity for us — both in terms of content and design. We tell the king's story as a spatially immersive narrative, from life through death to the afterlife. Being able to present these tomb treasures in their entirety for the first time is an emotional and professional highlight,” says Frangoul-Brückner. “With the opening, this once-in-a-century project will finally be accessible to everyone.”
The Tutankhamun Gallery covers 7,500 square meters on the first floor of the new building, just a few hundred metres from the Pyramids of Giza. Conceived by ATELIER BRÜCKNER in 2017, it was designed as an immersive, narrative experience.
The new building itself was designed by the renowned architectural firm heneghan peng architects.
With over 90,000 square metres of floor space, the GEM is the world’s largest museum dedicated to a single civilization and is expected to welcome more than 15,000 visitors daily. ATELIER BRÜCKNER met this challenge with an intelligent visitor guidance system that structures the monumental spaces and gives even small objects a powerful presence.
In two parallel wings, each 180 metres long and up to 16 metres high, all 5,600 objects from the pharaoh’s tomb are displayed, including about 3,000 that have never before been publicly seen. The undisputed highlight is the world-famous death mask of Tutankhamun. The tour through the gallery unfolds as a spatially dramatic journey through the life, coronation, death, and afterlife of the god-king, concluding with an abstract, life-size model of the tomb presented through multimedia.
Architecture, scenography, lighting, materials, graphics, and interactive media intertwine to create a holistic and emotional experience.
But it’s not just the Tutankhamun Gallery that bears ATELIER BRÜCKNER’s signature.
Central areas such as the atrium—featuring the over eleven-metre-high statue of Ramses II—the striking Grand Stairs, and the Piazza were also designed by the Stuttgart-based firm, which was additionally responsible for the children’s museum, comprising 3,465 square metres of exhibition space.
Ahram Online (AO): What challenges had to be overcome?
Shirin Frangoul-Brückner (SFB): In 2016, following an international selection process, we were commissioned to design the exhibitions, a great honour!
The biggest challenge was definitely the tight schedule: we had just six months to develop the concept and design for the Tutankhamun Gallery, an incredibly ambitious goal. The excellent briefing from the Egyptian curators was crucial in this regard. From the outset, we knew that the entire tomb treasure was to be displayed. This clarity enabled us to develop the spatial narrative immediately and bring Tutankhamun to life in all his dimensions.
AO: What is your impression of the museum?
SFB: The Grand Egyptian Museum is a world-class museum, a project of the century! It is a symbol of Egypt’s pride and cultural identity. Countless people have worked on it for years, bringing passion, knowledge, and dedication to the project. You can feel this collective energy in every detail.
AO: What are your expectations or hopes regarding public perception?
SFB: I hope that the museum will be perceived for what it is: a gift from Egypt to the world. It is a place where history comes alive — where people meet, learn, and marvel. For me personally, it is also an invitation to rediscover the beauty and spirituality of ancient Egyptian culture.
AO: How might the exhibition appeal to young people in particular?
SFB: When designing exhibitions, our aim is always to evoke emotion in people, regardless of age. An exhibition should move people, not just inform them. Our design makes history tangible and alive because we bring the objects to life. You feel close to Tutankhamun, seeing him not only as a legendary king but as a human being.
I am sure that all visitors will be deeply impressed when they see how little space all these objects took up in the tomb—hidden until Howard Carter brought them to light. At the same time, the process of mummification is fascinating—this ancient knowledge about life and death, which still holds a mysterious appeal today.
AO: What impact could the museum have on tourism?
SFB: I believe that the Grand Egyptian Museum will open a new chapter in the field of cultural tourism. The whole world is waiting for this opening! It will be a place you must see at least once in your lifetime. I hope that people from all over the world will come to Egypt to experience this treasure, and that they will feel the power, dignity, and magic that emanates from this place.
AO: After all these years, how do you view your work at the GEM?
SFB: With great pride and deep gratitude! It has been a privilege to work on a project that will last for generations. Knowing that our work is part of this cultural heritage is very fulfilling. After all these years, I am, of course, also excited. Finally, the curtain will rise and we can see how everything comes together. I am very happy to witness this historic moment.
* Jörg Römer is a Science Editor for the German news magazin DER SPIEGEL.
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