Egypt's ancient sunken ruins of Alexandria to become world's 'first underwater museum'
By Tom Anstey 27 Oct 2015
Jacques Rougerie's original designs featured a central underwater hub connected by a series of underwater walkways Credit: Jacques Rougerie Architect
Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities has said it is reviving ambitious US$150m (€136m, £97.8m) plans to develop what it says will be the world’s first underwater museum, which will showcase the submerged ancient ruins of Alexandria.
Announced by minister of antiquities Mamdouh al-Damaty, the plans have been in the works for more than seven years after the government decided to turn the ruins, which date back to 365 AD, into a tourist attraction.
The site, which is protected by the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, has more than 2,500 pieces of stonework from the sunken section of Alexandria, covering an area of around 25,000sq m (269,000sq ft) in the Alexandria Bay.
One of the most notable structures included is the Lighthouse of Alexandria on the Island of the Pharos – one of the seven wonders of the ancient world – which was submerged along with the rest of the city following a series of earthquakes in the Middle Ages.
The museum plan originally came about in 2008, when the government was looking at a way to prevent parts of the ancient monuments and relics being pilfered by thieves – who are selling to private collectors – and damaged by water pollution.
French architect Jacques Rougerie drew up plans for fibreglass tunnels which would connect new above-ground waterfront galleries to an underwater facility, where the antiquities would be visible in their sunken state. However, those plans were shelved in 2011, in the wake of the Egyptian Revolution.
Plans were originally devised in 2008
Several years later though, the plans have been revisited and look set to become a reality with the support of the country’s government and UNESCO. According to Youssef Khalifa, chair of the Central Administration of Lower Egypt Antiquities, the plans will be similar to Jacques Rougerie’s original plan, utilising an above-water exhibition space for recovered Alexandria relics and then an underwater tunnel taking visitors down to the 7m-deep (23ft) sea floor in the bay. There will also be submarine tours with glass observation windows to further explore the museum.
“The museum will reshape the Arab region, as it will be the first of its kind in the world,” said Khalifa speaking to Al-Monitor. “Undoubtedly it will revive tourism and boost the Egyptian economy after a long recession.”
The architects for the revived project have not yet been confirmed, Attractions Management has contacted the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities for confirmation.
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Egypt's ancient sunken ruins of Alexandria to become world's 'first underwater museum'
POSTED 27 Oct 2015 . BY Tom Anstey
Jacques Rougerie's original designs featured a central underwater hub connected by a series of underwater walkways Credit: Jacques Rougerie Architect
Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities has said it is reviving ambitious US$150m (€136m, £97.8m) plans to develop what it says will be the world’s first underwater museum, which will showcase the submerged ancient ruins of Alexandria.
Announced by minister of antiquities Mamdouh al-Damaty, the plans have been in the works for more than seven years after the government decided to turn the ruins, which date back to 365 AD, into a tourist attraction.
The site, which is protected by the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, has more than 2,500 pieces of stonework from the sunken section of Alexandria, covering an area of around 25,000sq m (269,000sq ft) in the Alexandria Bay.
One of the most notable structures included is the Lighthouse of Alexandria on the Island of the Pharos – one of the seven wonders of the ancient world – which was submerged along with the rest of the city following a series of earthquakes in the Middle Ages.
The museum plan originally came about in 2008, when the government was looking at a way to prevent parts of the ancient monuments and relics being pilfered by thieves – who are selling to private collectors – and damaged by water pollution.
French architect Jacques Rougerie drew up plans for fibreglass tunnels which would connect new above-ground waterfront galleries to an underwater facility, where the antiquities would be visible in their sunken state. However, those plans were shelved in 2011, in the wake of the Egyptian Revolution.
Plans were originally devised in 2008
Several years later though, the plans have been revisited and look set to become a reality with the support of the country’s government and UNESCO. According to Youssef Khalifa, chair of the Central Administration of Lower Egypt Antiquities, the plans will be similar to Jacques Rougerie’s original plan, utilising an above-water exhibition space for recovered Alexandria relics and then an underwater tunnel taking visitors down to the 7m-deep (23ft) sea floor in the bay. There will also be submarine tours with glass observation windows to further explore the museum.
“The museum will reshape the Arab region, as it will be the first of its kind in the world,” said Khalifa speaking to Al-Monitor. “Undoubtedly it will revive tourism and boost the Egyptian economy after a long recession.”
The architects for the revived project have not yet been confirmed, Attractions Management has contacted the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities for confirmation.
The development will sit inside Alexandria Bay Credit: UNESCO
Plans for a mega-leisure development in Egypt, which were derailed by the Egyptian
Revolution in 2011, are back on track according to one of the key players behind the
US$1.1bn (€1bn, £738m) safari, theme park and hotel development near Cairo.
In an effort to combat a failing economy that has plunged a quarter of its population into
poverty, Egypt is planning to build a new US$45bn (€42.3bn, £30.6bn) administrative,
business and leisure capital east of Cairo to house five million people and feature a theme
park “four times bigger than Disneyland.”
Egypt has formed a ministerial committee charged with developing a strategy to
safeguard the country’s Islamic heritage by reinvigorating faltering projects.
The Egyptian government is bidding to reinvigorate its art and heritage sector
through heavy investment into the renovation and restoration of its historical
cultural sites and institutions.
The Global Wellness Institute (GWI) has released promising new research on the wellness real
estate market at its third-annual Wellness Real Estate & Communities Symposium in
Manhattan.
Paul Hawco, a seasoned figure in the international wellness industry, has assumed the role of
executive director – integrated wellbeing at independent, hospitality group Banyan Group.
The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee in the southeastern US state of Georgia is celebrating a
new milestone after unveiling its newly renovated 27,000sq ft destination spa.
Art’otel, Radisson’s contemporary art-inspired lifestyle hotel brand, has strengthened its
presence in London with a new hotel in Hoxton fusing art, design and hospitality.
Luxury hotel brand Aman, widely known for its strong spa focus, has just launched its much-
talked-about sister brand Janu in Tokyo – complete with a 4,000sq m urban wellness retreat.