Some ideas are breakthroughs and reveal mysteries which themselves have been investigated for centuries. Jean-Pierre Houdin theory’s about the construction of the great pyramid of Khufu will undoubtedly be a new beginning for historians and lovers of egyptology. It is a simple idea : the pyramid from built from the inside not from the outside (as a mountain one tries to climb). An internal ramp rising spirally was used from 43 meters up while the external ramp was used up to 43 meters. Full story here.
As many visionnaries, Jean-Pierre was convinced his idea was the right one; he left his architect practice, his wife Michelle sold her gallery cum salon in Paris “Les enfants gates”, and they moved back and forth between Paris and New York, getting into web design, the internet and video, investing their personnal ressources (500 000€) until they found sponsors (200 000€). I believe that Jean Pierre will now be in a position to get this theory shared and proved through additional investigations in Khufu.
The 2 corner stones of Houdin’s theory : the 1.6 km internal ramp (view from above, with the external ramp top right) and the counterweight to build the Royal chamber
Why has this theory been so successful and commented over the last few days : 1 million unique visitors since they announced it 2 weeks ago and hundreds of press coverage worldwide. In my opinion :
– it is simple and everything investigated for so many years fall into place nicely
– it is supported by strong engineering analysis, using Catia, Simulia and Delmia of Dassault Systems
– it has been endorsed by worldwide scientists and egypotologists
– it has been extremely well comunicated worldwide, supported by 3D modelisation
From 2D to 3D
Mehdi Tayoubi, director, marketing and communication, web communication, has been working with Jean-Pierre for 2 years with his team at Dassault Systèmes in a program called “Passion for Innovation”. He is a web 2.0 guy, with a strong vision about the future of interactivity, 3D and web TV. 3D is well known by engineers or gamers. Dassault Systemes wants to make it popular within new markets, such as education. The 3D application was created using Virtools, to build an experience as close to reality. I attended a private demo and one can pilot over the whole site as if you were piloting an helicopter, as well as inside and outside of the pyramid. Mehdi thinks that Virtools can have the same success as Flash for designers. Mehdi says :
In many ways, Virtools is to 3D what Flash is to 2D. It facilitates content editing and manipulation and simplifies interactivity management.
Jean-Pierre Houdin and Mehdi Tayoubi, interviewed on April 12th (in english)