Octavian CIUPITU, architect
Altvägen 99, S-142 42 Skogås, (Stockholm) SWEDEN
Voice: +46.(0)8.771 57 36. Fax: +46.(0)8.771 57 36. E-mail:
octavian_ciupitu@curierulromanesc.net

A STUDY FOR
THE NEW ACROPOLIS MUSEUM
IN ATHENS

by

Octavian Ciupitu, M.Arch.

This unrealized architectural project represents my proposals to the first stage (the Ideas Competition) of the International Architectural Competition for the siting and planing of the New Acropolis Museum in Athens 1990.

The Ideas Competition

concerned:

  1. the siting of the New Museum or the Museum complex at one or more of the three selected sites in the wider area around the Acropolis:
      a. the site of the Makryianni building block;
      b. the Koile site;
      c. the site of the "Dionysos" restaurant;
  2. the developement of the wider area with possible proposals for the regulation of the traffic and parking areas;
  3. the possible inclusion of the present Acropolis Museum and the Centre for Acropolis Studies (on the Makryianni site) in the functions of the New Museum;
  4. the organisation of the spaces and the form of the Museum building or the Museum complex.

The project

concerns the siting of the New Acropolis Museum at the block in the Makryianni area, together with the building witch at present houses the Centre for Acropolis Studies.

Except that, the project concerns also the developement of the wider area with proposals for the regulation of traffic and parking areas at the site of "Dionysos" restaurant on the Philopappos Hill and the opposite building block and the organisation of the areas and the form of the Museum building.

The New Museum is not only a venue for the display of the Acropolis masterpieces: the exibits offer stimuli to the visitor in order that he or she may learn about, study, participate in or simply enjoy these works or art.

The decisive factor in the choice of site for the New Acropolis Museum was the conviction that the building should be situated in an area close to the Acropolis itself and to the Centre for Acropolis Studies in order that the inseparable bond linking the ancient objects with the Classical monuments should be maintained.
For this reason the site incorporated in the wider area around Acropolis selected as meeting the requirements for the erection of the Museum is the Makryianni site.
The Centre for Acropolis Studies is incorporated into the workings of the Museum.The exhibition areas for works of art from the ancient period constitute an integral unity.
The parking for the Museum is located at the "Dionysos" area.

Exhibition areas:

  • A. Area for the exhibition of prehistoric and geometric objects 300 m2
  • B. Area for the exhibition of the large porous stone pediments 878 m2
  • C. Area for the exhibition of the small porous stone pediments 403 m2
  • D. Area for the exhibition of the marble pediments from the "ancient temple of Athena", 736 m2
  • E. Area for the exhibition of kores and other archaic sculptures 574 m2
  • F. Area for the exhibition of vases and bronzes 296 m2
  • G. Area for the exhibition of severe style works 354 m2
  • H. Area for the exhibition of the Parthenon sculptures 3 006 m2
  • I. Area for the exhibition of sculptures and architectural members of Erechteion, 278 m2
  • J. Area for the exhibition of sculptural decoration from the Temple of Athena Nike 348 m2
  • K. Area for the Propylaea exhibition 209 m2
  • L. Area for the exhibition of votive objects from the Classical period 318 m2
  • M. Area for the exhibition of free-standing reliefs of the Classical period 288 m2
  • N. Area for the exhibition of Roman sculpture and portraits 208 m2
  • O. Area for the exhibition of Byzantine works 261 m2
  • P. Area for the exhibition of medieval works 157 m2
  • Q. Area for the exhibition of works from the Turkish period 120 m2
  • R. Area for the exhibition of the first restoration projects 120 m2

    Facilities for visitors:

  • -area for the reception of visitors (foyer)
  • -ticket office
  • -information
  • -cloak room
  • -museum shop
  • -telephone facilities - post office
  • -rest rooms and toilet facilities
  • -first aid room
  • -control room
  • -nightwatchman's quarters
  • -office for guides - journalists
  • -venue for the reception of VIPs
  • -refectory

    Proposed extent of area 780 m2

    Areas for cultural events:

  • -a multi-purpose hall seating 500 persons 900 m2
  • -a hall for periodic exhibitions 500 m2

    Workshops and administrative offices:

  • -workshop for sculpture conservation
  • -pottery conservation workshop
  • -metal conservation workshop
  • -photography room
  • -x-ray laboratory
  • -chemical laboratory
  • -area for the receipt of exhibits for storage or conservation
  • -workshops for the buildings of the museum complex
  • -area for the workshop staff
  • -director's office
  • -five secretarial offices
  • -five offices for specialist staff
  • -draughting studio
  • -area for drawings archive
  • -photocopying area
  • -area for telex
  • -conference room
  • -toilet facilities

    Proposed extent of area 2 200 m2

    Archeological store-rooms 1 188 m2

    Total area for the New Acropolis Museum 14 422 m2

    The architecture of the New Museum

    consists in elements borrowed from the Greek Classical architecture: the Doric order from the Parthenon and the Ionic order from the Erechteion.

    The plans are an interpretation of the Classical plan form. It means that the visitor follows an initiation's path with an entrance upon the Greek Classical architecture, a development from prehistoric objects to the severe style (from the A-area to the G-area), a climax with the Classical period (from the H-area to the M-area) and a conclusion (from the Roman period in the N-area to the first restoration projects in the R-area).

    The exhibits shown therein, the architectural members, sculptures, statues and other votive offerings to the gods, together with the in situ archeological remains, combine to present the ordinary visitor and the specialist alike with the highest achievements of ancient Greek art and at the same time bring to life a picture of the Acropolis, that most sacred of places in Ancient Athens.

    Drawings:

    1. Survey plan of the wider area. Survey plan.
    2. West elevation. Ground floor plan.
    3. South elevation. Section A-A. First floor plan.
    4. Basement plan.
    5. 3th floor plan.
    6. 4th floor plan.

    Photographs of the model:

    1. West view.
    2. North view (from the Acropolis)
    3. East view.

      Bibliography:
      • The Classicist (USA), no. 2/1995, pp. 77, 78.
      • Ministry of Culture, Directorate of Museum Studies, Greece: The new Acropolis Museum, International Architectural Competition, Athens, 1991, p. 184.

    • © 1990-2007 Octavian Ciupitu. All images and text are for private study purposes only. Under no circumstances are they to be reproduced in any form without permission.
    July 17th, 1995. Last modified: December 31, 2006.
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