Grand Egyptian Museum

Folded roof structure in aluminium helps to spark the Grand Egyptian Museum like a gem

Today marks a historic moment. The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) officially opens its doors to the public, becoming the largest archaeological museum in the world. More than 100,000 artefacts dating from a variety of periods in Egypt’s history are being displayed.

The design of the museum is remarkable and aims to create an immersive and enjoyable experience for visitors. Located near the world-famous pyramids of Gizeh, the GEM replicates and modernises the triangular shape of the nearby pyramids.

Sparkling folded roof structure protects against solar radiation

A striking feature of the new museum is the roof. The folded roof structure, with rectangular panels in expanded aluminium spread across all parts of the roof and its underside, has a double function. It has to insulate the museum from solar radiation. This is necessary as the roof and façade can reach temperatures over 70° Celsius in the searing desert sun. Thanks to the roof structure, the temperature in the galleries of the museum remains at around 23° Celsius.

At the same time, the roof structure makes the museum radiate like a gem. The reflection of the sun on the aluminium structure creates an amazing splendour, which can be seen from afar, especially in the dark. The open structure of the roof also creates a beautiful play of light inside the museum.

Aluminium guarantees durability and a sparkling effect

The construction of the roof structure was a complex building feature. Belgian construction company Besix, along with Egyptian contracting firm Orascom Construction were tasked with it. Aluminium Duffel was contacted at an early stage by Orascom’s subsidiary Alico for the delivery of the aluminium for the roof. About 1,000 tonnes of 151EX® aluminium plates were processed and expanded in mesh pattern to create openness. The plates were then sent to Egypt to be anodised in natural colour.

In addition, about 70 tonnes of Aluminium Duffel’s 55HX® aluminium sheet have been used in wall cladding inside of the museum.

The choice for aluminium has several reasons. Aluminium is a lightweight material. Given the enormous surface of the roof, weight was an important factor. Furthermore, aluminium is a strong material, which helps to protect against scratching from the abrasively blowing desert sand. And the roof also had to sparkle. The anodisation in natural colour gives it a vivid look and intensifies the reflection of the sun.

“This is an iconic project we have been handling in very close cooperation with our partner Alico. It was very impressive to see the museum evolve during my different visits in Egypt. It really is a superb gem coming out of the desert with the beautiful Gizeh pyramids in the background. It is an astonishing view. It is nice that our Aluminium Duffel products form an important part of the museum,” Aart-Jan Reeskamp, Sales Director at Aluminium Duffel says.

Why choose 151EX® and 55HX® anodised aluminium for your next architectural project?

Choosing the right material is essential for long-lasting, creative architecture. Our 151EX® and 55HX® anodised aluminium offer a premium solution with unmatched performance and sustainability:

• Non-combustible, durable, and attractive. Ideal for modern architecture.
• Resistant to UV, corrosion and scratching, while preserving its natural metallic look.
• Highly flexible and formable, enabling virtually unlimited design possibilities. While it can be readily shaped and is easy to bend, aluminium also maintains strong mechanical properties, ideal for perforating, punching and expanding.
• Both lightweight and strong, anodised aluminium offers a long useful life with minimal maintenance.
• 100% recyclable without loss of quality, making it a truly sustainable building material.
• Colour is uniform throughout the whole surface. With our natural anodised 55HX® and 151EX® aluminium, architects can trust that the final result will match their vision and remain consistent for years to come.