Studies advance for new Archanes Archaeological Museum project

As stated by the Ministry of Culture in a relevant announcement, the project is being implemented within the framework of a Cultural Development Programme Agreement between the Ministry of Culture, the Region of Crete, and the Municipality of Archanes–Asterousia, with the scientific support of the Technical University of Crete.

The budget of the agreement amounts to €730,000, financed through resources from the National Development Programme of the Ministry of Culture and the Region of Crete.

In the former wine bottling facility

According to the Ministry’s announcement, the new Museum will be housed in the building of the former wine bottling plant of the Agricultural Cooperative of Archanes (SYNPE), which has been granted to the Ministry of Culture for the use of the building and its surrounding area. It forms part of a property with a total area of 20,900 sq m, owned by the Municipality of Archanes–Asterousia, located in the settlement of Ano Archanes and within the boundaries of a designated traditional settlement.

Based on the approved building programme, the Archanes Archaeological Museum will cover 6,330 sq m and will include a permanent exhibition space of 900 sq m, a temporary exhibition hall, multimedia and educational activity rooms, conference facilities, laboratories, storage areas for antiquities, and visitor service areas.

The new building infrastructure provides for modern accessibility and energy efficiency standards. The aim of the Museum is to offer visitors a comprehensive museum experience through permanent and temporary exhibitions, educational programmes, and modern facilities. The permanent exhibition will narrate the history of Archanes from prehistoric times to the present day.

The planned exhibition will feature approximately 1,000 artefacts of various types and sizes, ranging from pithoi and larnakes to seals and jewellery. The exhibition is structured into thematic sections presenting the history and evolution of Archanes, beginning with an introduction highlighting the importance of water resources and aqueducts over time. It then examines ancient Archanes as an administrative and settlement centre, with references to daily life, production, and the rural hinterland. This is followed by the necropolis and Mount Juktas as a sacred site of religious significance. The exhibition also presents relations with other regions and the wider world, as well as the historical course of Archanes from antiquity to modern times. Finally, emphasis is placed on agricultural production, particularly wine and olive oil.

The architectural proposal

The architectural proposal for the building’s redevelopment makes use of its distinctive morphological and structural characteristics, preserving elements of its industrial identity while integrating them into its museum function. At the same time, extensive interventions are proposed to improve functionality, accessibility, and energy efficiency, as well as to create a dynamic internal circulation system with metal ramps.

The main architectural interventions include the reconfiguration of internal levels while preserving and reusing the old tanks as elements of industrial heritage, the reconstruction and elevation of the roof to enhance its connection with the landscape, and the redesign of the façades with the preservation of the industrial character and the use of modern materials.