The international evaluation committee, formed by the Minister of Culture and Sports Lina Mendoni, in April 2022, conducted and completed the selection process of the study of the architectural draft, ie the architectural proposal, according to which the new National Archaeological Museum is founded. The process of preparing an architectural draft study, entitled ” upgrading, underground expansion and interconnection with the Acropolis edge of the National Archaeological Museum…”it has been approved by decision of the Minister of Culture and sports (no. 558074/17.11.2021-Government Gazette B5352).

The International Evaluation Committee unanimously selected, after a thorough and thorough examination of the proposals submitted, the proposal of the architectural firms David Chipperfield Architects and Alexander N. Tobazi A.E.

The selected proposal brings together the elements of the imaginative relationship between the old and the new building, the quality of the spatial experience, the sensitivity towards the programmatic and museological-museographic challenges, the urban integration in the fabric of the city and the pioneering resolution of sustainability and environmental design issues.

After being briefed by the president of the International Evaluation Committee Andreas Kourkoulas, Lina Mendoni said: “the proposal of the offices David Chipperfield and Alexander N. Tombazi visualizes the vision, creates a unique landmark in the urban fabric, is anthropocentric. It promotes the national dimension of the National Archaeological Museum, which connects with the world. I point out that all the proposals submitted are distinguished by high quality, aesthetics and vision, while they fully meet the standards we set. Thank you to all those who participated, Greek and foreign architects. We want an extrovert Museum, in constant dialogue with society, with a dynamic look towards the future. The expansion of the National Archaeological Museum contributes substantially to the regeneration of the wider area of the historic center of Athens. This is one of the emblematic projects, which Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has included in the government’s programmatic statements and for which he has a strong personal interest. I especially thank the members of the International Evaluation Committee for the excellent quality of their work. I thank Nikolas and Irene Laimos, as the first stage of the project was completed thanks to their kind donation. I thank the executives of the Ministry of Culture, members of the Committee for monitoring the evolution of the work of the donation, for supporting the whole project. The presentation of the proposal of the Chipperfield –Tobazi offices will be made, within the next month, by the architects in the presence of the Prime Minister”.

David Chipperfield is an internationally renowned and award-winning architect. His architectural firm has proven extensive experience in the architectural design of museum spaces internationally, including the Neues Museum in Berlin, The Hepworth in the United Kingdom, the Museo Jumex in Mexico. The Architectural Design Office of Alexander N. Tobazi A.E. it is a recognized and award-winning office with experience in major projects.

According to the designated procedure, at the invitation of the evaluation committee, drafts were submitted by ten architectural offices abroad in cooperation, respectively, with ten Greek architectural offices. They are as follows:

* David Chipperfield Architects and Alexander N. Tobazi A.E.

* SANAA (Kazuyo Sejima + Ryue Nishizawa) and Buerger Katsota Architects

* Herzog and de Meuron and AETER Architects

* Diller Scofidio + Renfro and VAP Architects and Neiheiser Argyros

* Adjaye Associates and Kizi Studio

* OMA and Sakellaridou / Papanikolaou Architects

* Atelier Jean Nouvel and George Batzios Architects

* Kengo Kuma and Associates and K-studio

* Thomas Phifer and Tsolakis Architects and Kalliopi Kontozoglou

* RCR Arquitectes and Parmenides-Longuepee-Mari

The International Evaluation Committee – in alphabetical order-consists of the following members:

* Gerasimos Giannopoulos, Lawyer

* George Deodatis, Civil Engineer, Professor at Columbia University

• Pierre B. Ducrey, archaeologist, professor, Fr. Rector of the University of Lausanne

* Louis Godart, archaeologist, Emeritus Professor of Aegean cultures of the University of Naples Federico II, advisor on the artistic heritage of the Presidents of the Italian Republic C. A. Ciampi and G. Napolitano.

Christopher Hudson, art historian and publisher of lowgill Publishing, president of the Motovun Group of International Publishers (MGIP)

* Andreas Kourkoulas, architect, Professor at the School of architecture of E.M.P.

* Meejin Yoon, architect, Dean of Cornell University College of Architecture, Art and Planning. Founder of design Across Scales Lab.

The elaboration of the design of the architectural draft was the subject of a donation to the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the NGO “NSL family” of the Nikolaos and Irini Laimou family.