Second prize in architectural competition
Architects: ONOFFICE environmental architecture – D. Antoniou, E. Katsoufi
Collaborating architects: M. Gerogiannaki, E. Demopoulou, P. Theodoropoulou, P. Kyriakopoulou, T. Pantazopoulou, A. Papamanolis, D. Petratou, A. Tsitsimbi
Year: 2019
The international architectural competition for the new museum aimed to provide Sparta with a contemporary landmark to house its rich archaeological heritage. The site located at the edge of the city reveals various historical layers present in the area, including ongoing excavations, part of the ancient road that connected Sparta’s Acropolis to Evrotas River and an abandoned listed factory from the 60’s expected to participate in the new scheme.
The proposal narrates the coexistence of an archaeological site, a modern building and a new construction. It explores the concept of “philoxenia” (hospitality) aiming to create a warm reception for the people who visit, for the artifacts that are exhibited detached from their original location and for the building itself. The design goal is to establish a balance between architectural integrity and meaningful integration into a historically charged landscape.
The main exhibition hall is placed on the upper level forming a light simple volume that floats above ground detached from the existing building. Big openings allow direct views to the soft landscape to the east and to the imposing presence of Taygetos Mountain to the west. The facades are composed of perforated corten steel panels that protect from direct sunlight and create a homogeneous surface with depth. The thematic sections of the exhibition are structured based on comfort, interactivity and quality experience. The exhibition hall is a flexible open plan space that offers possibilities for different layouts, incorporation of new technologies and continuous addition of new exhibits.
The museum experience ends at the “mosaics plaza”: an elevated outdoor space that connects the old building with the
new, creating a dialogue between the two. People have the opportunity to orient themselves looking towards the mountains, the river and the city of Sparta, and make connections between history and place. The building seeks to fulfill almost zero power consumption (NZEB) requirements by proposing a "technological roof" over the main exhibition hall. It incorporates solar heating and photovoltaic panels and systems of ventilation, air conditioning and natural light. The rest of the site is turned into an archeological park with minimum interventions. A new path is opened next to the ancient road that connects Evrotas River to the ancient Acropolis through the New Archeological Museum.
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