Parigoritissa Glyptotheque

A small Glyptotheque for the significant byzantine sculpture collection derived from the area of Arta is designed within the restored building of the Panaghia Parigoritissa Refectory. The old vaulted building becomes an imposing backdrop for a minimal exhibition layout that cleverly maximises the space without concealing the original architectural features. Raw aesthetics and industrial materials like concrete and steel for the plinths and supports create a visual counterpoint to the elegantly decorated byzantine architectural fragments, while large panels of life-size photography of the various monuments add context, texture and scale to the displays, opening up “windows” to the byzantine locations of the region.

Client

Greek Ministry of Culture- 8th Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities

Timeframe

2008-2010

Location

Arta, Greece

Exhibition Footprint

180m2

Simplicity to the point

A fast-pace programme and a tight budget provided the parameters for this project. It was decided that emphasis should be given to the design of mounts for the architectural fragments and sculptures on display, interpretation should be simple yet effective, setworks should be kept to a minimum. By employing local craftsmen and using “commercial” materials and techniques, cost was kept to a minimum. The specialist mounts and steel supporting structures are the only “designed” element that complements the sculptures, alongside the contextual landscape photography. The result is an exhibition that is balanced and bold, achieving to contain within a limited floorplan stories and aspects of the many important byzantine monuments of Arta.
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Project Highlights

Images by

Natalia Karakosta