Its almost 150-year history is taking a new, hopefully pleasant turn. National Archaeological Museumwhich is currently entering an upgrade phase for good, as per yesterday’s announcements Ministry of Culture. In particular, it was announced that the International Evaluation Committee, established in April last year, had reached an architectural proposal and project, according to which the New Archaeological Museum would be created. The committee unanimously selected a partnership proposal between David Chipperfield Architects and Alexandrou N. Tombazi SA.

“The office proposal of David Chipperfield and Alexandru N. Topazis embodies a vision, creates a unique milestone in the urban fabric, is human-centered. It highlights the national dimension of the National Archaeological Museum, which it links to global development,” said Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni, adding that “we want an extroverted museum in constant dialogue with society, with a dynamic vision of the future.” “.

“We want an extroverted museum, in constant dialogue with society, with a dynamic view of the future,” said Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni.

The participating firms submitted quality proposals, but the Chipperfield and Tombazi bureaus excelled and were unanimously selected by the committee. In addition, British architect Sir David Chipperfield himself is to come to Athens over the next month to present the plan with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. And his architectural firm has received important international awards such as the European Union Mies van der Rohe Prize for Contemporary Architecture and the Imperial Prize of the Japanese Art Association. The first, along with several other awards, was awarded in 2011 for the design of the impressive Neues Museum in Berlin, and the office’s other notable projects are the Museo Jumex in Mexico and The Hepworth in the UK.

Of course, what remains to be announced is the detailed design and functionality of the new museum. At the moment, only one project has been published, which highlights a radically changed image of the surrounding area with the creation of an additional level in front of (?) Patishen Street, from where a panoramic view of the courtyard, garden and the complex of buildings of the museum itself opens up. As mentioned in a previous K publication, the latter will see major interior changes, with new state-of-the-art rooms for occasional exhibitions, an auditorium with a separate entrance, and new cafes and restaurants that will operate regardless of the museum’s opening hours.

The big stake that the chosen proposal wins, according to yesterday’s statement from the Home Office, is obviously related to the harmonious relationship between new and old building, as well as the quality of visitor service, which requires immediate modernization. , a response to modern museum and museographic standards, as well as the integration of the entire project into the surrounding fabric of the city.