At the intersection of modernity and antiquity

http://www.algomhuria.net.eg/gazette/1/ (The story on this URL will expire shortly)
Article by Hassan Saadallah on the Egyptian Gazette website about the new Egyptian Grand Museum. I've reproduced the article in full because it will not be archived on the Egyptian Gazette website, and will only be available for a few days.
"Situated on a plateau between the modern city of Cairo and the ancient Pyramids of Giza, the Egyptian Grand Museum (EGM) will be home to over 150,000 artifacts. Amongst these are the treasures of King Tutankhamun, many of which will be on public display for the first time, having spent years in storage since their discovery by Howard Carter in 1922.
The 480,000sqm museum will consist of a high-tech complex of facilities, providing visitors with access to a broad range of information. Mohamed Ghoneim, general coordinator of the project, says the that EGM is expected to open in 2011, having cost US$550 million, including a US$300 million long-term loan from Japan, US$100 million from the Egyptian Fund for Development and Financing Antiquities and Museums, and US$150 million in donations."
The purpose is to create a state-of-the-art museum which tells the story of ancient Egypt and provides access to information and future knowledge. 'With the support of new technologies, more information can be obtained in the most up-to-date ways, enabling the EGM to be an enjoyable, entertaining, educational and cultural experience for all visitors,' says Farouq Abdel Salam, the general director of the project.
Uniquely, the Egyptian Grand Museum allows its visitors to go back in time and navigate through the story of ancient Egypt over the past 7,000 years, enjoying a voyage through one of the world's richest cultural heritage.
The master plan and landscape of the Grand Museum are perceived through light and vision. The harsh sunlight of Egypt is mediated to create a story of light modulating in quality and intensity between the sun and shade, exterior and interior, day and night. Ghoneim says that, when the Egyptian Museum in el-Tahrir Square was inaugurated on 15th November, 1902, the building met with contemporary air circulation and natural lighting standards. Approximately, 500 persons originally visited the museum daily and there were 35,000 artifacts exhibited in halls with an area of about 15,000sqm. As there were more and more exciting finds in the first half of the 20th Century, the number of artifacts in the collection grew and grew to more than 160,000. The exhibition halls have become very crowded and the exhibits are at risk from the increasing air pollution.'The EGM, which lies at the intersection of modernity and antiquity, with its updated facilities will solve the problem, while the present Cairo Egyptian Museum will retain its function as an archaeological museum reflecting the ideas of the early 20th century,' he explains, adding that it will also accommodate nearly 7,000 artistic masterpieces.
Yasser Mansour, head of the EGM's Technical Committee, says 4 million tourists are expected to visit the museum every year and an average of 150,000 visitors per day.Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Zahi Hawass has announced that the Statue of Ramses II will stand at the entrance to the museum."

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