The highest advisory bodies of the Ministry of Culture, the Central Council of Modern Monuments and the Central Archaeological Council, have unanimously approved the preliminary studiesarchitectural, static, and electromechanicalrelated to the expansion and upgrading of the National Archaeological Museum, the world’s most significant and wealthiest repository of ancient Greek art.
The architectural design of the project is led by the Chipperfield-Tombazi offices.
The projects studies began after the approval, in April 2024, by the Hellenic Parliament of a 40,000,000 sponsorship agreement from Spyros and Dorothy Latsis in memory of Ioannis and Erietta Latsis. This funding will support the entire range of studies for the museum’s expansion.
The studies encompass the entire building block and museum complex, which also includes the Epigraphic Museum, a unique institution in its field.
Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, stated:
Greece will finally have the National Archaeological Museum it deserves. The architectural identity of the museum is a complex result of combining neoclassical principles with later modernist interventions. The existing building, preserving its historical character, has evolved to meet the functional and museological needs of each era. The current exhibition spaces, designed in the second half of the 19th century, reflected the needs, visitor numbers, and museological views of that time. However, the doubling of visitors has made it necessary to reconsider and modernize the architectural features.
The expansion and upgrading of the National Archaeological Museum, through the proposed interventions, will give the monument a unified character, addressing the irregularities and disconnected additions made over time. It will restore elements of the original structure and enhance its function to meet the demands of a modern, world-class museum. Additionally, the museum complex and the public garden will become a landmark and a major attraction for the capital. The redesign aims to transform the museum into a dynamic center for outreach, including a research center dedicated to antiquity, a universally accessible cultural and recreational center, and a public garden. Special attention will be paid to addressing existing building issues, such as humidity and water ingress, strengthening its earthquake resistance, improving its energy efficiency, and enhancing accessibility. For the first time, suitable environmental conditions will be ensured for the display and exhibition of antiquities, including humidity, sunlight, and temperature control.
The main goals of the architectural proposal for the expansion and upgrade of the National Archaeological Museum include:
Creating a public park as a gift to the city.
Promoting Greek identity to an international audience.
Expanding the museums functions and exhibition spaces, reinforcing its status as a beacon of national culture.
Key interventions outlined in the strategy include:
A building extension to develop new infrastructure and exhibition spaces, with respect for the neoclassical fa?ade.
A new grand main entrance on Patission Street, with a plaza and public foyer.
Enhanced internal cohesion and accessibility through connections between the monument building and the new extension.
The creation of a large, open public park with a bistro and courtyard, offering a high-quality urban space.
Simultaneously, the renovation of rooms from the 1950s, modifications to the central axis to improve structure and orientation, and enhancements to the research center with modern laboratories and offices are planned. Visitor infrastructure will also be upgraded, including a central foyer, lockers, cloakrooms, sanitary facilities, restaurant, auditorium, gift shop, and areas for temporary exhibitions.
Exhibition and storage space upgrades are also integral to the plan:
Approximately 17,000 antiquities will be displayed across two thematic areas, 13 sections, and dozens of sub-sections, with the three Prehistoric Collections (Neolithic, Cycladic, and Mycenaean) expanding from 1,100 m² to 2,500 m².
The space for temporary exhibitions will be more than doubled, from 429 m² to approximately 1,033 m², with separate storage and logistics spaces.
New spaces for educational programs will increase from 50 m² to 178 m².
Storage spaces for antiquities and general use will be modernized and expanded from 3,367 m² to 4,296 m².
Conservation laboratories will increase from 856 m² to 1,707 m².
The library space will expand from 201 m² to 289 m², and the historical photographic archive will grow from 39 m² to 91 m², with new storage areas of 142 m².
The project also includes the development of a new cultural axis linking the museum with the National Technical University of Athens, the Acropolis, and Pedion tou Areos, enhancing the broader area of Exarchia, Patission, and Metaxourgio.
The park design within the museum extension will create a dialogue with the historical Ziller building (1889) and revitalize the aesthetic of a romantic-era park. The design features winding pathways, which offer a sense of limitless movement and depth, with lawns in hollows or raised areas, and bushes that restrict views to enhance curiosity and the feeling of a larger space.
The new design also aims to improve visitor experience and environmental conditions for the exhibition of antiquities, ensuring the right temperature, humidity, and air quality. It includes advanced air conditioning, heating, ventilation systems, and other facilities, all designed with energy efficiency and sustainability in mind.
Historical and architectural evolution of the National Archaeological Museum:
- 1889: The museum opens in its current location, with the main entrance on Patission Street. The architectural design by Ludwig Lange was modified by Panagi Kallkos, Armodios Vlachos, and Ernst Ziller.
- 19031906: Expansion of the eastern wing by Anastasis Metaxas.
- 19321939: New three-story eastern wing (Georgios Nomikos), featuring exhibition spaces, storage, workshops, and administrative offices.
- 19401941: Concealment of exhibits during World War II.
- 19471964: Interventions by Patroklos Karantinous with modernist principles, redesigning the entrance and technical infrastructure.
- 19702016: Structural interventions, reinforcements after the 1999 earthquake, and upgrades for the 2004 Olympic Games.
This comprehensive upgrade will transform the museum into a world-class institution, reflecting Greeces rich heritage while embracing modern museum practices.
