The spirits of Greek ancient gods would definitely rest peacefully since the completion and opening of the New Museum of Acropolis back in June 2009. Earlier this year, the new Greek museum received The 2011 AIA Institute Honor Award for Architecture.
With an area of 226,000 square feet — 10 times larger than the old museum — the new state-of-the-art building feels open and full of light. Three competitions and many delays were held, and finally after the fourth a team of local and international architects
delivered with an award winning structure.
The concept was ideal: Light, movement and a tectonic programmatic element, guided the new project to house the most significant sculptures of antiquity, as well as presenting some of the most influential buildings since the beginning of time, such as the Parthenon itself.
The museum’s transparent enclosure provides the ample luminosity while some new high-tech glass windows protect the interior against excessive heat. Natural light is part of presenting the sculptures, and the flow of the viewing encourages a 360 view — allowing the rich space to be appreciated to its fullest.
The orientation of the marbles represents the exact replica of the Parthenon; their placement provides the appropriate context to frame the accomplishments of the ancient Acropolis temple. The museum has decided to reunite all the pieces even though some remain missing: copies replace the missing ones only on the Parthenon floor, so as to unite the history of the context—alleviating any gaps that the visitors may experience otherwise.
One simply cannot help but admire how the modern elements of the museum were designed to compliment the priceless remains of the Acropolis. Do have a watch at the featured video (above), as well as more images (below) to get a better look at the Museum of Acropolis.
The Acropolis Museum is located in the historical area of Makriyianni, southeast of the Rock of the Acropolis, on Dionysiou Areopagitou Street, Athens.
Hours
Tuesday to Sunday: 8.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Last admission: 7.30 p.m.
Galleries cleared at 7.45 p.m.
The Museum is open every Friday until 10 p.m.
Monday: Closed.
Closed: 1 January, 25 March, Easter Sunday, 1 May, 25 December and 26 December.
Nantia Boufa is our newest correspondent hailing from Greece. She'll be connecting the dots in style all the way from Athens.
One simply cannot help but admire how the modern elements of the museum were designed to compliment the priceless remains of the Acropolis. Do have a watch at the featured video (above), as well as more images (below) to get a better look at the Museum of Acropolis.
Hours
Tuesday to Sunday: 8.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Last admission: 7.30 p.m.
Galleries cleared at 7.45 p.m.
The Museum is open every Friday until 10 p.m.
Monday: Closed.
Closed: 1 January, 25 March, Easter Sunday, 1 May, 25 December and 26 December.
To learn more about The Acropolis Museum, go: HERE.
Nantia Boufa is our newest correspondent hailing from Greece. She'll be connecting the dots in style all the way from Athens.
