Christian Richters
At the base of the Acropolis, less than 1,000 feet from the Parthenon, Tschumi’s concrete-and-steel structure rises on pilotis above an exposed archeological dig. In the galleries, filtered daylight washes over sculptures that date from the Archaic to the late Roman periods of classical antiquity. The museum also incorporates a 200-seat auditorium, a café overlooking the archeological excavation, a store, and a restaurant with views of the Acropolis.
Jury: “It is very contextual and powerfully respectful of the urban fabric of Athens while doing a dance around the ruins.”
Client: “Bernard Tschumi understands that content and architectural schemes are inseparable. The process was oriented to both problem solving and creativity. Since opening in June 2009, we have received over 3 million visitors … [who] engage with the museum in a positive manner and are constantly surprised by what comes around the corner.” —Dimitrios Pandermalis, president, New Acropolis Museum
2011 Institute Honor Awards for Architecture
Jury
David Miller, FAIA, (chair) The Miller Hull Partnership
Ashley Clark, Assoc. AIA, LandDesign
Curtis Fentress, FAIA, Fentress Architects
T. Gunny Harboe, FAIA, Harboe Architect
David Neuman, FAIA, University of Virginia
Louis Pounders, FAIA, ANF Architects
Sarah Snodgrass, AIAS Representative, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Allison Williams, FAIA, Perkins+Will
Jennifer Yoos, AIA, VJAA
Ford Assembly Building, Richmond, Calif.
North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, N.C.
University of Michigan Museum of Art, Ann Arbor, Mich.
New Acropolis Museum, Athens, Greece
One Jackson Square, New York
Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre, AT&T Performing Arts Center, Dallas
Rooftop Garden, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco
Horizontal Skyscraper Vanke Center, Shenzhen, China
Diana Center, Barnard College, New York
U.S. Land Port of Entry, Warroad, Minn.