Page 34 - MYCONIAN COLLECTION MAG 2018

the edit

When the Minister of Culture and the
Minister of tourism of Greece reached out to Jean
Pierre heim to present his vision and concept for the
by Despoina Sampson design of a museum for Delos, the resulting proposal
A Ground-Breaking took everyone’s breath away. Jean-Pierre heim is
an internationally renowned architect with a diverse
portfolio. he has worked for significant clients such
New Museum for Delos as Van Cleef & Arpels, revillon, Baccarat, Christian
Lacroix, Lanvin, Lancel, Puiforcat and Club Med.
throughout his impressive career, he has designed
world-famous venues including luxury resorts and
entertainment centres. And just last year, in 2017,
Jean-Pierre heim put together a pioneering design
concept for the Delos archaeological site in Greece.
Calling it impressive would be an understatement.

the syMBoLisM
According to the proposal, the new museum is to be
name sole-Delos after the mythological siblings Apollo
and Artemis. According to heim Design, the name
stands as a symmetrical anagram paying tribute to the
mythical delta triangle, a symbol of Delos. For those
unfamiliar with Greek mythology, it was one of the
almighty Cyclops – or Giants – who hurled a giant
stone, which became Delos. Granite, stones and rocks
are symbols of energy. Delos’ geological composition
comprises three energy minerals, Jean Pierre heim
explains: quartz, mica, and feldspar. the architect
imagined an equilateral triangle with a north-south
axis to protect the entrance to the museum from the
strong etesian winds – the meltemia – of the Aegean,
which can last for days.

the Vision
imagine 5000 m of living space comprising three
2
structures up to 100 metres in length. At their tallest,
they stand at 20 metres, including 3-5 metres of
underground space. Very significant to the project is
the ground level, a reflection of the soil of ancient Delos
buried by time and destruction – as only 10 percent of
the site has been unearthed so far. heim has designed
three concrete slab bridges crossing a reservoir that
collects rainwater, mostly in the winter, as the entrance
and exit of the museum, itself built with a reinforced
concrete vault due to the high seismic activity in the
region. the concrete vault ceiling will also protect
the invaluable contents of the museum from the heat
and will be tall enough to give a sense of a natural
dome, mirroring the dome of the sky which was so
important in antiquity. Ancient Greek mathematicians,
astronomers, historians and philosophers would have
agreed – the height of the ceiling here is important.

An innovative new museum concept and design has been
AERIAL VIEW OF THE BACK
put forward by Carolyn Heim and Jean-Pierre Heim, inspired and Artemis, the new museum will be named Sole-Delos
Getting inspiration from mythological siblings Apollo
and informed by the significance and symbolism of Delos. - a symmetrical anagram paying tribute to the Greek
letter Delta, the symbol of Delos.

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