Located in the Exarcheia district of Athens, the National Archaeological Museum houses one of the world’s most important collections of prehistoric and ancient art. The original neoclassical building, by Ludwig Lange and Ernst Ziller, dates from 1866-1874, and over time has been supplemented with additional buildings. Through David Chipperfield Architect Berlin’s refurbishment and extension, the museum will be modernized to meet current sustainability standards.

The architectural firm took as its starting point the original monumental building, linked to a romantic and philhellenic idea of an urban landscape, articulated through lush open areas. The plinth of the building was extended all the way to the street, adding two floors of subterranean galleries and providing roughly 20,000 square meters of additional space and a public park. Respecting the building’s historical value, the extension does not aspire to compete with it, but forms a harmonious ensemble of spaces, reaching a serene balance between old and new.