The Grand Egyptian Museum

Available for over a year

More than 10 years and one billion dollars in the making, the Grand Egyptian Museum is the sort of big statement architecture the Pharaohs would surely have respected. Built on a 120-acre site – just 2km from the pyramids of Giza – and housing 55,000 objects, this will be the world’s largest archaeological museum, served by a purpose-built international airport. Buildings such as this represent much more than a generous space for ancient artefacts. This is a prestige project that, it is hoped, will place Cairo very much back on the global map as the Egyptian government encourages the revival of mass tourism after a turbulent and damaging decade. Within Egypt, it is hoped the grand museum will attract six million visitors a year, while helping to heal cultural divisions and restoring national pride. Will it work? Presenter: Jonathan Glancey Producer: Dom Byrne (Image: The Grand Egyptian Museum design. Credit: Atelier BRÜCKNER) A Just Radio production for BBC World Service