The brief:

The objective of the competition was to contribute with new ideas and strategies for the construction of a museum-thematic park with an educational/recreational character. Having as its central theme the Argonauts and the reconstructed ship of Argo, the museum’s intension is to act as one of the most important landmarks of the wider region of Thessaly, not only regenerating the area, but also promoting tourism. 

The concept:

Using Argo as a vehicle, the aim is to create not just a theme park, but a center for the promotion of the domestic and international concern about the Greek mythology and its connection with the ancient Greek naval shipbuilding tradition. 

Technology and the use of water, inside and outside the building, are two essential elements of the composition. The building is actually designed as a dock, “temporarily” hosting Argo, which emerges as the central figure that dominates over the entire space. Around the building, three discrete modules develop: a. the main entrance and visitors experiential raise ramps, b. the central interactive - exhibition space (parallel with the main exhibit) and c. the amphitheater, operating as a theatrical stage, with Argo in the background.  

The outdoor space is divided in distinct activities related to education, recreation and construction. Renewable Energy Systems are utilized for the building’s operation, while copper, used on all curved external surfaces, makes a symbolic reference to the era of the myth.