For the selection process of David Chipperfield Architects and Alexandrou N. Tombazi SA who will create new National Archaeological Museumbut also about the details of its new form, which partly differ from the original vision – typified, finally, by the above-ground rather than underground connection to the Acropolis – Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni and President of the International Committee for the Evaluation of Relevant Architectural Projects, Andreas Kourkulas.

In particular, answering the question about the connection of the museum with the historic hotel Patision, Mr. Kurkulas specified that in all the proposals that were in the hands of the international committee, “it is considered that there is no need to tighten the underground connection with the Acropolis and proposed a superficial connection”. As Mr. Kourkulas explained, the museum’s connection to the National Technical University of Athens remains in question, as the latter’s architectural school’s historic buildings could be “an important center of relations between the museum, the Technical University and and the municipality” in ways that are expected to be fleshed out when the Chipperfield-Tombazi idea will be implemented. “What would be desirable at some point,” Ms. Mendoni added, “is to have two building blocks in the center of Athens that will have a joint operation that will culturally renew the area.”

Giving order to the new museum, the Minister of Culture noted that the new exhibition space will occupy an area of ​​16,500 sq.m. (as well as existing ones), and its garden will be 13,000 sq.m. “The garden is a very important part of the museum,” Ms. Mendoni emphasized, adding: “The museum expansion will develop underground, but we don’t want to lose the garden, so it will exist above.” The parking area to be created will be 8,500 sq.m.

The new exhibition space will cover an area of ​​16,500 sq.m. and the garden area will be 13,000 sq.m.

Speaking about the museum exposition, the Minister of Culture emphasized that it would not be divided into old and new, but would be characterized by a meaningful and functional unity, in the context of the plan, designed to accommodate the entire museum function, because. as well as storehouses, whose antiquities will be exhibited. Mr. Kurkulas explained that the new spaces will be both exhibition and public, as the Chipperfield-Tombazi approach also faces the city itself, where the museum is expected to be a meeting point. Explaining his decision not to hold an open competition for architectural proposals, Mr. Kurkulas explained that experience has shown that this will lead to a “disappointing” number of applications for offices of around a thousand. He also stressed that the criteria set were strict, as they included, among other things, the offices’ international awards for their work (such as the Pritzker and Mies Van der Rohe awards) and for museum design, as well as osmosis. with collaborating Greek offices. The fact that the latter do not have the international awards that, for example, the Portuguese have, Mr. Kourkulas added, “should worry us”, and the Minister of Culture stressed that the National Archaeological Museum was the goal from the very beginning.” the largest and most important of its kind internationally in terms of promoting the ancient Greek heritage to acquire an international dimension.” He also emphasized that the applicable procedure is provided for by law, since projects financed from EU funds are not subject to mandatory institutional tendering.

However, in commenting on the entire process with its announcement, the Association of Higher Education Architects – Panhellenic Union of Architects described it as “problematic” as it is said to not follow statutory bidding procedures but to provide for mixed collaboration. between foreign and Greek offices.

It is expected that in the next period the Chipperfield-Tombazi offices will develop their proposal so that full implementation studies of the project are prepared, from which the budget will also be obtained, the upper limit of which (300,000,000 euros) was provided by the feasibility study. The project will be financed by co-financing programs, and on February 15 it will be presented to the public. The presentation of all ten submitted proposals in the form of a report and a printed list is also discussed.