Architecture studios OMA and Andrea Tabocchini Architecture have remodelled the Gallery of the Kings at the Museo Egizio in Turin, Italy, to “reconnect the ancient Egyptian statues to their original context”.
The gallery holds a number of monumental statues from the ancient Egyptian city of Thebes, the site of which is now in Luxor.
OMA’s renovation, carried out in collaboration with Andrea Tabocchini Architecture, replaced a 2006 remodel by set designer Dante Ferretti, which was intended to be temporary but was kept until now.
In contrast to Ferretti’s design, which OMA described as a “black box”, the studio wanted to create a transition from darkness to light.
To do so, it designed a dark entryway from which visitors are moved into two bright halls where the statues are displayed.
“OMA’s design for the Gallery of the Kings reconnects the ancient Egyptian statues to their original context in Thebes, rather than showcasing them as mere protagonists of a contemporary spectacle,” the studio said.
Led by architects David Gianotten and Andreas Karavanas, OMA uncovered the original architecture of the space, which dates back to the 17th century, to reveal its high windows and walls. The walls were then clad in aluminium, which the studio said lends the space an “ethereal quality”.
The aluminium walls reflect the light coming in through the clerestory windows, while also displaying historical information about the statues.
The first exhibition hall was designed to resemble the outer spaces of the Karnak temple complex in Thebe, with two sphinxes taking centre stage, surrounded by statues of the goddess Sekhmet.
A statue of the Egyptian pharaoh Seti II stands at the end of the hall. The second gallery was designed to emulate the inner spaces of the temple and houses statues of kings and gods.
“The opportunity to design the Gallery of the Kings compelled us to explore how the contemporary museum experience and the historical context of artifacts can coexist through architecture,” Gianotten said.
“It has been an honor to work with the museum’s highly professional and dedicated team on this project. We look forward to seeing how local and international visitors engage with this invaluable collection in new ways.”
The remodel is part of a wider OMA-led renovation of the Museo Egizio, which will also include a new covered courtyard and a series of interconnected public rooms.
By uncovering the windows in the Gallery of the Kings, OMA has allowed the Egyptian statues to be seen by passersby from the nearby Via Principe Amedeo.
Other recent projects by OMA include an “anti-iconic” bridge in France and a derelict bakery that was turned into an art space in Detroit.
The photography is by Marco Cappelletti, courtesy of OMA and Andrea Tabocchini Architecture.
