David Chipperfield to Expand National Archaeological Museum of Athens

David Chipperfield Architects, in collaboration with Alexandros N. Tombazis & Associates, won the international competition to expand the National Archaeological Museum of Athens. The project, announced a month ago, was selected from ten international firms. The expansion extends the museum onto the square in front of the 19th-century building, which houses over 20,000 artifacts but currently displays only 10% of its collection. The redesign aims to regenerate the historic center of Athens in the Exarcheia district. Chipperfield's studio has released initial renderings showing a new entrance with a monumental neoclassical staircase, a partially underground wing with a roof garden, and 20,000 square meters of new spaces including exhibition halls, a ticket office, a shop, a restaurant, an auditorium, and temporary exhibition areas. The exterior will feature a garden-agora designed by Wirtz International, with paths, lawns, monumental trees, and Mediterranean pines, serving as an urban park. The new wing will connect to the old building via a courtyard open to the landscaped roof. The project seeks to update the original architectural approach without stylistic breaks, balancing monumentality with open green spaces.