Architectural Competition Opens for Athens Archaeological Museum

Plato Academy Park. Photo source: Municipality of Athens

The Municipality of Athens and the Greek Culture Ministry announced on Thursday that a competition had opened for the design of the new Athens Archaeological Museum that is planned to be erected in the less-privileged Akadimia Platonos area.

“The Athens Archaeological Museum embodies the municipality’s vision for the regeneration of the Plato Academy Park (Akadimia Platonos) and forms its foundation,” said Athens Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis referring also to the ambitious urban regeneration project.

The competition was announced by Anaplasi Athens SA and foresees under an agreement between the municipal authority and the culture ministry, the promotion and protection of the archaeological site and of the Plato Academy monuments, infrastructure upgrades and the protection of the natural surroundings.

Photo source: Municipality of Athens

The project, budgeted at 3.8 million euros, will also include the construction of a 500-seat open amphitheater and the regeneration of green space with the creation of a park and is expected to create dozens of new jobs.

The municipality aims to create a “hub of culture, recreation and nature in one of the most degraded areas of the capital… that will improve and significantly upgrade the quality of life of residents, offer development possibilities and opportunities for the creation of jobs”.

Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni and Athens Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis. Photo source: Municipality of Athens

Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said the construction of an archaeological museum had been a “vision for decades” and once completed will showcase thousands of findings from Athens that have never been exhibited.

“We look forward to proposals that with ingenuity and respect for the history of the location and the environment will highlight the unique wealth of finds in Athens,” said Mendoni.

Statuette of Dimitra, 2nd century A.D. Photo source: Greek Culture Ministry

Inscribed tombstone, 380-370 BC. Photo source: Greek Culture Ministry

“The new Archaeological Museum of Athens will host important archaeological finds which had remained unseen until today and each of which could be the central exhibit in the world’s largest museums. We aspire for it to become an international center of scientific, artistic and cultural activity and an integral part of the life in the neighborhood,” said Bakoyannis.

Excavations are scheduled to begin in the coming weeks, while work on the park, which includes the reconstruction of the playground, landscaping, signage, and lighting, will follow shortly after. Funding has been secured through the municipality’s “Adopt Your City” program from sponsors.

Photo source: Municipality of Athens

The deal to redevelop the archaeological site of  Akadimia Platonos was signed earlier this summer between the municipality of Athens, the culture ministry and the Academy of Athens, Greece’s oldest research institution.

Further information about the competition can be found on Anaplasi Athens SA website (in Greek).