Athens, Greece
Originally designed by Pavlos & Konstantinos Mylonas, and Dimitris Fatouros during the 1960s, the National Art Gallery of Greece has been modernized and expanded by Grammatopoulos –Panousakis Architects and D. Vassilopoulos & Associates, transforming the museum into an A-class 21st-century art space.
An additional 11,040 square meters were added to the 9,720 square meters of the original building, more than doubling its operational space to a total of 20,760 square meters.
Additional exhibition space of 2,230 square meters, modern storerooms of 1,645 square meters, a 240-seat conference hall, a two-story library, fully equipped conservation labs, administrative offices, educational facilities, and a large reception hall of 910m2 which houses, in addition to the ticket desk and cloakroom, a large shop and a digital information lounge.
There are also two dining venues in the new museum: Ilissos Café on the courtyard level and Parthenis Café-Restaurant on the third floor of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Wing, with panoramic views to the Acropolis and Mount Lycabettus.
Modern equipment has been installed in the storerooms and laboratories, the library, and administrative offices thanks to donations from organizations and private individuals.
In addition to lifts and staircases, ramp access is available, ensuring walkable access to the upper stories for all visitors, with stunning views of the city and Mount Lycabettus.
The façade of the three-story B Building (Stavros Niarchos Foundation Wing) is covered by a glass tower, which shelters the ramps while giving a modern, dynamic look to the new museum.
Access for people with impaired mobility is provided everywhere.
The new museum’s most prominent features are its brightness and openness to the city and its friendly and welcoming nature.
The architects have created an ambiance of understated elegance in the interiors of the new museum.
The sumptuous wood paneling, the winning combination of natural and artificial lighting, and the ingenious management of the exhibition space all ensure an ideal environment for displaying art.
The expansion of available gallery space enabled the display of approximately one thousand paintings; moreover, drawings and prints went on public display for the first time.
The inspired design of the new National Gallery – Alexandros Soutsos Museum impacts, not only its operation but also its appearance, updating it to twenty-first-century museum design and style standards.
The impressive new, state-of-the-art museum has now opened its doors, and public response has been overwhelming, with more than one thousand visitors coming to admire the new display of the collections every day.
Greek artists, who rightly claim a place in the history of world art, at last, have a home worthy of them.
Project: The National Art Gallery- Alexandros Soutsos Museum
Architects: Grammatopoulos –Panousakis Architects Ltd and D. Vassilopoulos & Associates L.P.
Original Architects: Pavlos Mylonas, Konstantinos Mylonas, and Dimitris Fatouros (1966-1975)
Structural Engineering: TOMI S.A.
Museography Design: George Parmenidis, Christine Longuepée, and Iphigenia Mari
Client: National Art Gallery-Alexandros Soutsos Museum, Ministry of Culture and Tourism
Photographers: Vagelis Zavos, Elena Dakoula, and Paris Tavitian
