Description

UDJAT VISION is a conceptual design for a Visitor Center located in the historic Saqqara Necropolis, Egypt — a site rich with cultural and spiritual legacy. The project draws deep inspiration from the Eye of Horus (Udjat), a powerful ancient Egyptian symbol of protection, healing, and wholeness. This concept shapes not only the visual identity of the space but also its emotional and functional experience.

The project consists of three main zones: a reception area, an immersive exhibition hall, and a coffee shop that offers a relaxing space for visitors to reflect on their journey. Each zone reflects the philosophical principles of the Eye of Horus, with spatial proportions, circulation paths, and materials designed to create a symbolic journey of knowledge, protection, and rebirth.

Architecturally, the design responds sensitively to the surrounding desert and ancient context. It features earth-toned materials, natural textures, and organic forms inspired by Saqqara’s monumental landscape. The center carefully balances contemporary design with ancient symbolism to create a space that is both functional and deeply meaningful.
The experience is enriched through interactive digital screens, informational panels, and highly detailed physical models that bring Saqqara’s architectural and spiritual history to life. Visitors can explore the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the Pyramid of Unas, and significant statues through carefully crafted displays that encourage both tactile and visual engagement. This approach allows the visitor center to function as a bridge between academic knowledge and personal experience, offering a journey through Egypt’s deep heritage in a way that is both accessible and meaningful.

“UDJAT VISION” is not only an architectural intervention—it is a cultural and spiritual reconnection with one of Egypt’s most sacred yet often overlooked historical landscapes, inviting visitors to rediscover Saqqara with fresh insight and emotional resonance.

Designed

2025

Completed

2025

Technical data

Material Palette:

Local sandstone

Rammed earth and plaster

Breeze brick walls (Reception)

Wooden detailing

Desert-toned flooring

*Technologies & Systems Used:

Wall-Mounted Interactive Screens in the Exhibition Zone

Modular Display Units for model presentation (Step Pyramid, Unas Pyramid, statues)

Breeze Block Screens in the Reception Zone for ventilation, light filtering, and texture

LED-integrated museum display lighting

*Design Software & Visualization Tools:

AutoCAD for 2D drafting and technical drawings

Rhinoceros (Rhino) for 3D modeling and form generation

V-Ray for rendering

Photoshop for post-production, diagrams, and branding

*Design Concept Inspiration:

The Eye of Horus (Udjat) as symbolic and spatial generator

Ancient Egyptian architectural proportions

Material and visual harmony with the Saqqara desert landscape

Project team

Designer:
Shrouk Mokhtar

Supervising Professors:

Prof. Dr. Khaled Hawas

Prof. Dr. Ola Hashem

Prof. Dr. Amany Mashhour

Prof. Dr. Hoda Gad

Dr. Tarek Fouad

Teaching Assistants & Support Team:

T.A. Rawan Yasser