The GEM and the Egyptian architects—bad luck? Khaled Asfour's Egyptian view of the Grand Museum competition and the whole education system - View

Architectural Review, The, Oct, 2003 by Khaled Asfour

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The first-prize project, by heneghan.peng. architects, compared with the other two, is the only one that utilized the Pyramids' visual presence to the fullest. The keyword 'view' is strongly felt and consistently practised throughout the programme logistics, for the museum design is structured totally along sight lines leading to the Pyramids. This is not just play of geometry, it is felt by visitors reaching the permanent exhibition area. This floor is above the ground parcelled into five thematic zones of the museum programme with all main thorough-fares leading to the Pyramids' view.

This is how competitions are won. The concept development is the dynamic force that controls the design development. Even for those who adopt the form-making approach, to start with a form that has symbolic meaning without seeing how it reciprocates with the programme logistics results in a form without content.

The competition ended in disappointment for many Egyptian architects, except perhaps one who was shortlisted among twenty finalists. Hopefully next time he will win an award.

KHALED ASFOUR

(Professor of Architectural Criticism, Misr International University)