Museum of the Nile

Description

PRESENTATION:

With more than 6,800 km, the Nile is the longest river in Africa and for centuries it was considered to be the longest in the world. Located in the north-eastern part of the continent, it crosses 11 countries and has two major tributaries: the White Nile, which originates in Uganda and Kenya, named for the chalky colour of the sediment in its waters; and the Blue Nile, which originates in Ethiopia and is the source of most of the water in the river.

The predominant building materials used in ancient Egypt were adobe, used in homes and monumental buildings, and limestone, reserved for tombs and temples. Our understanding of Egyptian architecture is mainly based on its religious monuments, massive structures with slightly sloping walls and few openings, a method of construction used to obtain stability in mud walls.

Without the Nile the ancient Egyptian empire would never have existed. The Egyptians were keenly aware of the great river’s importance, regarding it as the creator of the fertile lands on which they lived and even worshipped a god, named Hapi, who represented the Nile.

Because the sun set every evening in the West, symbolizing death, and was reborn every morning in the East, representing life and resurrection, the cities and towns were always built on the eastern shore of the Nile and the necropolises and funeral temples on the western shore.

Object:

The objective of this competition for architecture students and young architects, Museum of the Ancient Nile (MoAN) Egypt, consists in conceiving of a museum that will submerge visitors in the ancient Nile and become an essential experience for tourists who wish to comprehend how Egyptian civilization proliferated.

Thanks to its privileged location, the proposed space will become an obligatory stop for people visiting the river, as a preamble to the history, mythology and monuments that the region contains. A global focal point for tourism that is capable of transmitting the importance of the ancient Nile for the history of Humanity.

The MoAN will provide an exhibition space that is a reference point for the Nile, integrated into the landscape and offering visitors a singular experience.