This project is about the renovation of an old stone house into an archeological museum in Samothrace, a greek island with huge history in ancient greek times. The site is next to the archeological site of the sanctuary of the Big Gods and so it has big importance for us, that's why we wanted to be a complementary part of the history but in a different way.

The natural environment has great beauty, behind the house there is an imposing mountain and the view towards the north side there is the sea. Also, next to the house there is an old thresing floor (aloni) which we want also to preserve and use it for our cause.

Our concept was to create an alternative experience of learning by using the whole land. The visitor would start from the outdoors environment with some info sneek peak of the theme and by percieving the whole nature with the historical mountain behind the building.

Then he would enter at the building and the main history would start through different stages. When he would finish the interior tour he would go out again at the natural environment where he could walk around the land, finding 3D printed models and statues in scattered spots with extra information and the ability to interact with them.

Below, you can see the proposed facades of the stone building where the traditional morphological elements were preserved and combined with some more contemporary details (as the stair railway, windows and doors)

Entering the building and the main museum would be from the Level 1, by taking the outdoor stone staircase. The visitor starts from the Room 1 where he would be generally infromed. He continues downstairs to the Level 0 with the Room 2, then the Room 3 and then he exits at the Yard where he is transitionally guided to the outdoors environment to finish in a more loose way his tour as he prefers, by going up to the Observatory where he can admire the view or stroll around the land discovering the 3D printed info-spots.

The detailed stages of the tour and the development of the concept are presented below:

Room 1  |  Acquaintance
We start the tour by taking the outdoor stairs to the Level 1. It’s the main entrance of the museum, the first acquaintance with this culture and the myths about Kaviria mysteries, queen Arsinoe and Samothraki island of that period.
The interior of this room will have stone walls to emphasize at the history, cement floor for the material clearness and the symbolic stability - also to help hightlight the exhibits, and an exposed wooden roof.
The exhibits will be perimetrical on the walls, information and printings and wall projections. At the center we’ll suggest rocks from the field or a minimal displaying system for small exhibits.
A metal panel, on which will be printed all the information, starts from the stone wall on the right and continues as a protection for the stairs.

Behind this we can take the stairs for the next room on Level 0.

Room 2  |  Privity
We dive into the musticism of the Kaviria mysteries: dark and atmospherical room with themed corners, recesses and indirect lighting.
Our aim is that the visitor will feel like he’s been initiated to the secret knowledge of the Great Gods. That’s why we create different corners with exhibits, so that he can discover every time something new as he walks.
The materials of the room will be the same as at Level 1, but with different, darker and pointed light. Now he has stepped down to the essence of his existence.
The exhibits here are various. Printed information on the walls and on metal panels as themed frames, small & medium objects (vases, figurines, jewelry, coins etc) and a video corner where with the proper equipment the visitor can stand and watch a certain projection.

Room 3  |  Exaltation
The climax of the tour will be on this room, where we’ll have the statue(s).
Here the materials are different, bright light and light grey and white colors so that the statue will dominate.
We made a case that we’ll have a big statue of Arsinoe so that the room will be dedicated to her. At the center of the room there is a hole on the floor, covered with earth ground where the statue stands. By that we emphasize even more on it and we place the queen directly on the holy ground of nature where she belongs.
To make this feeling even stronger and to make a slight connection with this room and the archeological site near us we make a vertical opening (window) towards this direction.
Therefore, our aim is that the visitor will feel an exaltation as he’s absorbed the wisdom, the truth revealed to him and now he can continue his life with it.

Room 4  |  Transition-Adaptation
This yard is a transitional space between the building and nature which will help him adapt again to reality. It’s part of the museum tour where the visitor can see some more exhibits that won’t be harmed by the air/sun. It could have also 3D printed models that the visitor can actually touch.
The materials are a ceramic-cement floor looking like the earth ground, the preserved stone walls of the ruins and natural plaster for the intermediate wall.

At the end, the visitor can choose how to continue his experience. Either he can go up to the Observatory, on the terrace of the museum, to admire the great view, rest a little, enjoy a coffee either he can continue his tour to the rest of the site, strolling around and discovering the info-spots with 3D printed models and learn more about that history in a more loose way.

Year: 2018

Project status: Proposal
Architect: Pinelopi Zoura