Al-Minya Storytelling Museum & Archaeological Park – Antinoopolis

Al-Minya city is the third city after Luxor and Giza in monuments’ number, as it has 39 archaeological site all over the governorate. These archaeological sites belong to five different eras (Pharaonic, Greek, Roman, Coptic, and Islamic) which are neglected, mistreated and barely people know how important they are. Plus, the infringements do not stop by the people living anywhere near the archaeological sites. So, if you have to protect something you must know it first.

The Project narrates two valuable stories; Al-Minya itself with the five eras and Antinoopolis which is the small picture of Al-Minya as both went through the same eras with the same values unlike any other archaeological site in Al-Minya. Each Story took control while designing and this is shown in the deconstruction in the cubes which represents the five eras unlike the whole rectangle which represent Antinoopolis as it is still one area.

The horizontal and vertical visual range was studied carefully to achieve the connection between the project and the archaeological site – Antinoopolis as it is one of the main aims of the project. Having an archaeological Park with some site managements like restorations and adding some stops and rest areas as well as investing the wire mesh technology to keep the identity of archaeological site with some modern touches.

A street from the roman urban planning was taking in consideration to be revived by extending it to the project approach; ended with a tunnel under the accessible car street for more safety. This revival street is an opportunity to encourage touristic walks as it is like the king’s festivities Road.

“A museum is a place where one should lose one’s head”. Renzo Piano

The Project consists of 4 main plans; Entrance Plan, Service Plan, Start and End Point Plans. The building is also disabled-friendly as all ramps were designed to slope 1:12 – 1:15, Plus having usable WCs.

Hologram Technology

This technology is used in 2 main halls; the first one in the Pharaonic Hall where Akhenaton is represented in the middle of the hall calling for unity as he already done in Tell El-Amarna. The Second one is in the Masterpiece of the project; the viewpoint hall and the end of the journey where visitors can see the ruins of Antinoopolis as the vertical visual range is achieved. Plus, hologram objects appear on the glass discussing and representing the whole pictures of these ruins after digital restoration; telling the whole story like a movie since the Pharaonic Period till how it looks like nowadays.

The Rotation Room is a hall where the governorate map is on the floor labelled by the 39 archaeological sites, and on walls there is different pictures of these places to know them even if there is no chance to visit in real because simply this is one of the main aims of this project.