Tanis Collection — Egyptian Museum, Cairo, Egypt - 2024

The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) represents one of the most ambitious cultural projects ever undertaken – a one-billion-dollar complex uniting over 100,000 artifacts within an architectural dialogue between ancient history and contemporary design. The Main Galleries form the museum’s narrative core, guiding visitors through three interpretive themes: Kingship, Society, and Beliefs – to illuminate the evolution of Egyptian civilization from prehistory to the Roman era.

Within this immense architectural framework by Heneghan Peng Architects, daylight plays a curatorial role, framing direct views toward the Giza Plateau while shaping the mood of each gallery. Exhibition design by Cultural Innovations, in collaboration with Haley Sharpe Design, Atelier Brückner, and Metaphor, balances storytelling, accessibility, and conservation with a carefully layered lighting approach developed by Abernathy Lighting Design, an EOS Lightmedia Studio.

As noted by Jason Abernathy in Designing Lighting (Oct/Nov 2025), “They’ve been on site for a very long time, and as far as I know, they’re in every single case in the project.” His reflection references Luxam’s enduring on-site presence throughout the museum’s development — supporting the installation and fine calibration of conservation-grade lighting systems that protect and reveal the collection’s most delicate artifacts. This long-term involvement exemplifies the project’s collaborative spirit, where every element of light serves both preservation and storytelling.

Featured in Designing Lighting’s Oct/Nov 2025 issue, “Illuminating Egypt’s Past, One Luminaire at a Time,” the project was celebrated for its craftsmanship, restraint, and ability to merge sustainability with narrative design. Together, these qualities create an atmosphere where illumination becomes interpretation — guiding the visitor’s gaze, enriching material detail, and bridging the ancient and the contemporary.