Archaeological sites of ancient Egypt

Africa | Egypt

The Egyptian Government, through the Ministry of Antiquities and the SCA (Supreme Council of Antiquities), embarked on an ambitious program to improve and conserve archaeological sites of Ancient Egypt. IDOM faced the unique challenge of acting in one of the most precious UNESCO world heritages on the planet and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: Ancient Thebes and the Gizah Plateau. The scope of the project was vast, covering the Temple of Luxor, the Royal tombs of the Pharaohs in the Valley of the Kings, the mortuary temples of Hatshepsut, Ramesseum, and Medinet-Habou, and the three Pyramids of Gizah.

As part of this project, IDOM developed the Heritage Lighting projects and the Security projects, from conceptual design to technical development, construction documents, and technical assistance to the installation works.

The lighting masterplan was guided by two fundamental principles of heritage lighting: preservation and respect for the original design. The lighting design aimed to create a narrative atmosphere that paid homage to the sites’ original concept while ensuring the preservation of these ancient wonders. Utilizing modern technologies, the lighting design transcribed the narrative of Pharaonic architecture, bringing to life the divinity and grandeur of the Pharaohs, the worship of the Gods, the sacred rituals, the belief in the afterlife, and the funerary practices.

The lighting design resulted in a breathtaking scenery of light and shadows, employing a variety of techniques to evoke the overwhelming atmosphere of the sacred and grandiose, seclusion, and mystery. The illumination of these historical landmarks allowed visitors to experience the rich history of Ancient Egypt in a completely new way, making for an unforgettable journey through time.

In the field of security, the scope of the project was:

Improving security to prevent terrorist attacks, vandalism, and theft, through the installation of modern Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) systems, perimeter controls (infrared barriers, microwave, buried cable), and video analysis.
Integrated management of sites: all security systems are supported by an IP network that interconnects different sites, allowing for their management from any control center within the network.
Ticketing systems, also supported by the IP network, allow for controlled access to sites, some of which require very delicate control of environmental conditions and may be affected. For this reason, access is limited through occupancy rules.
Control of visitors and workers through the implementation of an access control system with turnstiles and barcode scanners.
Control of temperature, humidity, and CO2 inside tombs.

Architecture : Building Physics : Information & security technologies : Lighting