Great Pyramid Monument

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Great Pyramid Monument is a German idea to build a mausoleum modeled on the Great Pyramid of Giza. It was proposed by writer Ingo Niermann. The plan is to create a democratic tomb in the former East Germany that could honor people of any background. If developed well, it could also attract tourists and start intercultural dialogue. The monument would be the world’s largest, serving as a grave or memorial for all humans. It aims to be affordable and open to all religions and nationalities. People who don’t want to be buried can have a memorial stone instead; stones can be customized with colors, images, or relief designs. The pyramid will grow over time as more stones are added, making it the biggest structure in history.

The idea grew from Niermann’s 2006 writings in Umbauland, with Jens Thiel, engineer Heiko Holzberger, and others forming the group "Friends of the Great Pyramid." They received about €100,000 from the Kulturstiftung des Bundes to pursue public relations, a solid plan, and site scouting in Eastern Germany. A documentary by Frauke Finsterwalder covers the project. In spring 2007, analyses pointed to a site near Dessau, about 100 km south of Berlin. Streetz and Natho showed little enthusiasm, but a symbolic founding stone was laid in Streetz in September 2007, followed by a festival with artists and media coverage.

Since the website launch in spring 2007, the idea attracted interest from several countries. About 1,500 groups expressed support by reserving a resting stone on the site’s website. The Italian design magazine Abitare highlighted Niermann’s concept in October 2007. Scottish musician Momus spoke of the idea but worried about a fascist look. By November 2007, a closed architectural competition was underway, with participants including Ai Weiwei, Arquitectonica, Atelier Bow-Wow, Nikolaus Hirsch, Markus Miessen, and MADA s.p.a.m. A respected jury was formed, including Omar Akbar, Stefano Boeri, Rem Koolhaas (jury president), and also Ingo Niermann and Miuccia Prada.