The New National Gallery
Physical Remodelling and Museological Renovation
View of the National Gallery National Gallery of Greece - Alexandros Soutsos Museum
The National Gallery was founded on April 10, 1900. Its initial collections came from the National Technical University and the University of Athens. Substantial donations came to be added to these.
View of the National Gallery National Gallery of Greece - Alexandros Soutsos Museum
In 1954, the National Gallery merged with the Alexandros Soutsos Estate, hence its name.
102_1596_4_6_1247 National Gallery of Greece - Alexandros Soutsos Museum
The institutional role of the National Gallery is to collect, safekeep, preserve, study, and exhibit works of art aiming at the aesthetic education of the public, the ongoing instruction through art and the recreation that it is able to provide.
View of the National Gallery National Gallery of Greece - Alexandros Soutsos Museum
An additional 11,040m2 were added to the 9,720m2 of the original building, more than doubling its operational space to a total of 20,760m2.
View of the National Gallery National Gallery of Greece - Alexandros Soutsos Museum
Additional exhibition space of 2,230m2, modern storerooms of 1,645m2, a 240-seat conference hall, a two-storey library, fully equipped conservation labs
View of the National Gallery National Gallery of Greece - Alexandros Soutsos Museum
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 is a second shop on the third floor.
View of the National Gallery National Gallery of Greece - Alexandros Soutsos Museum
There are also dining venues in the museum: Ilissos Café on the courtyard level and Parthenis Café-Restaurant on the third floor.
View of the National Gallery National Gallery of Greece - Alexandros Soutsos Museum
In addition to lifts and staircases, ramp access is now available, ensuring walkable access to the upper stores for all visitors, with stunning views of the city and Mount Lycabettus.
The façade of the three-storey 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.
View of the National Gallery National Gallery of Greece - Alexandros Soutsos Museum
This project was financed by the NSRF, Public Investments, the Attica Region, and a large (13€ million) Stavros Niarchos Foundation grant personally secured by the ex-director, Marina Lambraki-Plaka.
The supervision of the project was carried out with great care by the technical services of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (General Directorate for Restoration, Museums and Technical Works). Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni accelerated the completion of the project, not only by securing all necessary funds, but also by personally keeping track of the project on a weekly basis.
The completion of the project was facilitated by the decision of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to link the opening of the new museum with the launch of the celebrations to mark the bicentennial anniversary of the start of the Greek War of Independence. The opening ceremony was held in the new National Gallery –Alexandros Soutsos Museum Foyer on 24 March 2021, in the presence of distinguished foreign guests.
Texts: Tonia Gianoudaki, Curator, National Gallery - Alexandros Soutsos Museum, Athens
Project leader: Efi Agathonikou, Head of Collections Department, National Gallery - Alexandros Soutsos Museum, AthensImages: Stavros Psiroukis & Thalia Kimpari, Photographic Studio, National Gallery - Alexandros Soutsos Museum, Athens
Digital curation: Dr. Alexandros Teneketzis, Art Historian & Marina Tomazani, Art Historian, Curator, National Gallery - Alexandros Soutsos Museum
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