Negotiating absence: Bernard Tschumi’s new Acropolis Museum in Athens

Bernard Tschumi's Acropolis Museum in Athens serves as a striking architectural manifestation of the complex and ongoing debate surrounding the decontextualization and potential re-contextualization of the Elgin Marbles. The museum, designed to house these ancient fragments, highlights the ideological and political challenges associated with their repatriation from London, where they have been housed for nearly two centuries. Tschumi's design not only addresses the physical absence of the marbles but also engages with the broader discourse on museum ethics, historical significance, and cultural heritage. The study explores how architectural structures can both reflect and influence these debates, offering a new perspective on the implications of decontextualization in the context of modern museology.

Lending, M. (2018). Negotiating absence: Bernard Tschumi’s new Acropolis Museum in Athens. The Journal of Architecture, 23(5), 797–819. https://doi.org/10.1080/13602365.2018.1495909