The Gallery of the Kings, home to a collection of colossal statues from the ancient Egyptian city of Thebes (modern-day Luxor), has long been the highlight of any visit to the Museo Egizio. The project transforms Dante Ferretti’s black box design, reconnecting the ancient Egyptian statues to their original context in Thebes. The gallery experience is defined by a transition from darkness to light – a concept historically linked to creation in ancient Egypt and often associated with kings and gods.

Visitors enter the gallery through a dark entryway, where digital projections on the walls narrate the history of Karnak – the statues’ place of origin – creating an immersive atmosphere that transports them across space and time. Two luminous openings lead visitors into the two bright main halls, framing the statues on display.

The original architecture of the monumental statuary – dating back to the 17th century – has been fully uncovered, revealing the vaults and high windows that define the space. The statues are now bathed in daylight, reminiscent of their original setting at Karnak. Subtly reflective aluminum walls not only provide historical information about the statues but also lend an ethereal quality to the gallery. Light streaming through clerestory windows directs visitors’ gaze toward the airy space above, evoking the grandeur of Baroque architecture while gently reminding them of the contemporary context in Turin.

The creative and innovative use of aluminum, contrasting with the ancient statues' materiality, creates a distinctive gallery experience. The reflections of visitors and the statues interact, enhancing the immersive quality of the space. The reflective nature of the aluminum transforms the material into a device that illuminates the ancient Egyptian context, adding depth to the narrative. The spatial design supports the new arrangement of the monumental statues, guiding visitors through an ancient Egyptian temple. Complementing this are interactive displays on the aluminum walls and an immersive room with digital projections, which enhance the educational function of Museo Egizio. Additionally, the space supports performing arts and event functions, broadening its versatility.

From a social impact perspective, the Gallery of the Kings is an integral part of Museo Egizio 2024, a design that repositions the museum as a central civic space in Turin through a series of public urban rooms. The gallery’s uncovered windows reveal the ancient Egyptian statues to passersby, inviting engagement with the museum collection and making it accessible to the general public.