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The research team of the Digital Media Lab of the School of Architecture at the Technical University of Crete presented the Preliminary Architectural Design for the New Archaeological Museum of Archanes on Thursday, 28 May 2026 in the presence of the Minister of Culture, the Governor of Crete, and the Mayor of Archanes.
The Digital Media Lab research team worked intensively on the transformation of the industrial building, formerly the Archanes Cooperative’s wine bottling facility, into a contemporary and innovative Archaeological Museum with a total floor area of 6,330 square meters.
The proposal preserves the four central tanks, measuring 8 m × 24 m × 7 m, as well as the principal morphological and structural characteristics of the existing building.
Through the use of ramps to ensure universal accessibility, the slight elevation of the roof, while retaining its original geometry, to establish a direct visual connection with Mount Juctas, the sacred mountain of Minoan Crete, and the installation of a perforated lightweight aluminum envelope around the building, set at a distance from its façade to protect the antiquities from direct sunlight, a new landmark is created for the region.
It is envisioned as a place where cultural networks and pathways converge, enabling a transparent and simultaneous reading of both the old and the new.
Respect for the existing building stock, adaptive reuse, and enhancement through innovative digital technologies constitute key strategies for sustainable development, urban regeneration, and the preservation of cultural heritage.
