Entrance court leading to the museum galleries hosting the statue of Ramses the second.

Entrance to the Grand Court

The route from the piazza to the Grand Court is one of the first experiences the visitor will have of the museum. The entrance is comprised of a folded plane within the structure of the Alabaster wall.

As a result of this design, the entrance appears as a slit in the facade and the view to the entrance court is slowly revealed to the visitor.

The transition space between the piazza and the entrance court is on axis with Ramses - he appears in a fold of geometry.

The entrance courtyard is part of the sequence of the spaces you would pass through walking along the Translucent Stone wall. (Also see separate section for more images and in depth studies of the entrance courtyard)

ENTRANCE IN TRANSLUCENT STONE WALL FOLD

Ramses II is the first point of reference within the Entrance Court. This shaded external space serves to orientate visitors to their desired destination. Museum visitors are invited through to the naturally lit Grand Stair Case as it ascends to the main exhibition spaces. A smaller staircase leads the visitor up to Conference and Education Centers, whose foyers hover over the activity of the Entrance Court giving them a sense of identity while connecting them to the Museum experience. The Nile Park descends, from the Lands of Egypt, into the Entrance Court, indicating the opportunity available to the visitor to explore the landscape beyond. VIP, researcher and children’s gallery visitors may proceed directly to their destination via the Entrance Court.

THE ENTRANCE FOLD (RIGHT) THE VISITOR SLIPS UNDER THE FOLD – THE INTERIOR ISREVEALED GRADUALLY

These are two images of a study model showing the view from the piazza to the entrance of the museum.

Visitors coming from piazza to entrance

Visitors then enter the majestic space of the piazza to with the back drop of the monumental translucent stone fa c ade.

RENDERING OF STORY SITE FENCE F3 SUPER GRAND

The paved surface of the Esplanade has a pattern which is a reinterpretation of an ancient Egyptian graphic pattern.

Esplanade connecting the site of the Grand Museum to the site of the Grand Pyramids of Giza. In the area within the site boundary of the GEM, the Esplanade has an average width of 40m.

Esplanade Plan ( dalia, Picture in Vol. D final SD part 2 page section 1:20 page (9of 50)

The grand Date Palm Esplanade is located in the region between the Recreational Garden – Piazza - Front Court and the Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road . It occupies this region as a public space and therefore preserves the edge of the plateau and the views of the Pyramids site as well as the GEM site.

The Esplanade is a public space, provides a strong, enjoyable pedestrian link along the length of the Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road , linking the GEM to Giza and the Pyramids site.

Date Palms are planted along its length, the space provides a safe pedestrian link between the current existing tourist facilities and the future ones that will develop along the Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road .

The Esplanade is intended to be a 24 hour public domain and welcomes the inhabitants of Cairo to meet and to promenade at night-time, creating a vibrant public space.