greece's first 'green' museum to be embedded in the topography of plato academy in athens

underground archeological museum by tsolakis architects

In August 2022, the municipality of Athens, Greece, announced an architectural competition for a new archeological museum and the country’s first ‘green museum’ to be built in the Greek capital’s Plato Academy Park. Seven months later, the winning design by local architectural firm Tsolakis Architects has been revealed, focusing on the harmonious symbiosis of two opposing forces in the region – the impenetrable mass of the city and the enclosed grove of the park containing the archeological excavations. Most of the museum’s surface is developed underground, creating smooth outcrops and pits that enhance the character of the site. The museum interacts with the existing terrain and is harmoniously transformed into a solution that serves as a hybrid of architecture and topography.

all images courtesy of Tsolakis Architects

creating a node of swirling movement

The design by Tsolakis Architects (find more here) supports the innovation of the specific museum, as it highlights the topography, urban planning, and public archeology, creatively integrating both the axes of the landscape and the urban planning of the city, while incorporating the archeological findings within the space. The city and the grove interact at the center of the site, creating a node of swirling movement that acts as both a ‘centripetal and centrifugal force’ of currents and activities. The layout creates a rectangular gap in the center that divides the space into four distinct wings. The roofs rise from the ground to form sloping, accessible surfaces that extend the grove’s existing planted area while providing comfortable conditions for natural lighting and ventilation for visitors and workers.

The cleanliness and flexibility of the exhibition spaces take into account the basic principle that the city is a living organism that is constantly changing. The alternation between closed and open spaces, the possibility of viewing the interior of the museum from different angles and to different degrees, aim to create a relationship of intimacy between the museum and the visitor that will make even non-visitors feel comfortable walking through the doors of the museum or sharing its messages.

the athens of the future

The 14,362 sqm, the building will be bioclimatic and leave no environmental footprint while providing seamless access for people with disabilities. In the surrounding area, the construction of an open amphitheater with 500 seats is planned. At the same time, within the framework of the promotion of the Plato Academy by the City of Athens, the redesign of the green area is planned with the creation of a park in the spirit of sustainability and future viability.

The proposal emphasizes the design of a public space that includes the museum, the archeological excavations, and recreational and sports areas, encouraging participation. The design principles of the new Archeological Museum demonstrate the vision of the Athens of the future. A city that relates the built infrastructure to the natural terrain and landscape, a city that respects, highlights and harmoniously coexists with nature and its history, including all its citizens.