The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) in Giza has opened its doors to visitors. With over 90,000 square meters of space, the museum is expected to accommodate more than 15,000 people per day. heneghan peng architects designed the building that represents the largest museum of Egyptian culture globally. The Tutankhamun gallery is the highlight of the museum, as it contains the burial treasures of the young king. The never-before-seen artefacts of Tutankhamun will be on view at the gallery for the first time since they were discovered a century ago in the Valley of the Kings.
The Tutankhamun Gallery
Designed by ATELIER BRÜCKNER in 2017, the Tutankhamun gallery contains around 5,600 objects, 3,000 of which are presented to the public for the first time. The space consists of two parallel wings, each 180 meters long and 16 meters high. Located in a semi-opened space and illuminated with 14 light sources, Tutankhamun’s golden mask is the centerpiece of the collection. The 7,500 square meters gallery is located on the second floor of the museum in proximity to the Giza Pyramids. An intelligent visitor guidance system leads the visitors through the life, coronation, death, and afterlife of the well-known pharaoh. The system includes a seemingly endless black floor panel with artefacts called the Curatorial Path and the Path of the Sun, a light band stretching along the ceiling.
The story told in five chapters
Visitors can go through the museum in either clockwise or counterclockwise order. The chronological path through the exhibit starts from the pharaoh’s ancestors to the moment his resting place was uncovered. The exhibition is divided into five central themes: the first being the Identity of Tutankhamun. The second chapter includes his Funeral, focusing on mumification, followed by the section of Rebirth with a reconstructed burial chamber. Shrines and sarcophagi are presented alongside items that describe daily life in Egypt at the time. Music instruments, tunics, and board games can be found in the Lifestyle segment. Discovery focuses on the effort of archaeologist Howard Carter, who uncovered Tutankhamun’s resting place. A life-size model of the burial chamber shows the position of all artefacts within the 35-square-meter tomb. The presentation is completed with historical images projected onto screens.
ATELIER BRÜCKNER also designed the atrium, Children’s Museum, Grand Stairs, and Piazza
The opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) in Giza took place on November 1st, 2025, with Shirin Frangoul-Brückner of ATELIER BRÜCKNER, Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, and German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in attendance. Apart from the Tutankhamun Gallery, the ATELIER BRÜCKNER has designed the Children’s Museum, the Piazza, and the Grand Stairs, which host around 90 pieces from various Egyptian dynasties. Atrium, also designed by the German studio, showcases a large-scale Ramses II statue and serves as the starting point from which visitors can reach numerous areas, including shops and conference rooms.
Project Info:
Tutankhamun Gallery: 7,500 sqm
Atrium: 7,295 sqm
Grand Stairs: 5,058 sqm
Children’s Museum: 3,465 sqm
Piazza: 23,000 sqm
Competition & Planning: 2016–2017
Main Objects: Tutankhamun’s golden mask; shrines; coffins; throne; chariots; Ramses II statue
Client: Ministry for Antiquities, Egypt
ATELIER BRÜCKNER: General Planning & Media Production, Exhibition Design,
Scenography & Graphic Design for the following areas: Tutankhamun Gallery, Grand Stairs, Atrium, Children’s Museum
Media Planning: with iart
Lighting Design: with Bartenbach
Showcase Construction: Glasbau Hahn & Goppion
Media Production: 2av
Architecture: heneghan peng architects
