Case Study

Athens Acropolis museum where

ancient meets modern

Internal wall partitions

The new Acropolis museum in Athens, Greece. Exterior, interior walls and coverings were made using
AQUAPANEL1 Cement Board panels and accessories.

Project: Acropolis Museum, Athens, Greece

Architect: Bernard Tschumi, Switzerland, lead architect, in cooperation
with local Greek architect Michalis Fotiadis
Contractor: Aktor S.A., Greece
Installer: Bauen S.A., Greece
Investor: Hellenic Ministry of Culture
Project timescales: 2007 - 2008
Application: Interior wall partitions and exterior ceilings
System: AQUAPANEL2 Cement Board Outdoor and
AQUAPANEL2 Cement Board Indoor (4,000m2 plus
AQUAPANEL2 system accessories)

Be certain, choose AQUAPANEL1

Exterior ceiling

Case Study
One of the most important museums of the world
The Acropolis Museum is an archaeological museum located
in Athens, Greece on the ancient site of the Acropolis. It is
considered one of the major archaeological museums in
Athens and ranks among the most important museums in the
world. Due to its limited size, the Greek Government decided
to build a new museum. The New Acropolis Museum is now
located at the southern base of Acropolis at the ancient road
that led up to the sacred rock in classical times. Set only
200 metres from the legendary Parthenon, the museum is the
most significant building ever erected so close to the ancient
temple.
The design by acclaimed Swiss-born architect Bernard
Tschumi was selected as the winning project in the fourth
competition for the design of the New Acropolis Museum.
Tschumis design revolves around three concepts: light,
movement, and a tectonic and programmatic element which
he says turns the constraints of the site into an architectural
opportunity, offering a simple and precise museum with
the mathematical and conceptual clarity of ancient Greek
buildings. The design is all about the clarity of an exhibition
route expressed through three materials - marble, concrete,
and glass.
Impact resistance a key consideration
Impact safety in the interior areas was one of the major
worries for the architects because of the millions of people
expected to visit the museum in its lifetime. AQUAPANEL2
Cement Board Indoor was chosen for the internal walls
because it combines both the strength of a brick wall yet can
be installed in a very short time period.

Aesthetics combined with technical superiority

Because of the architects choice of key materials: marble,
concrete and glass, a decision was taken to create an
exterior with AQUAPANEL2 Cement Board Outdoor. It has a
smooth surface so it can be used to create a monolithic look.
However, the fact that AQUAPANEL2 Cement Board Outdoor
is 100% water-resistant made it a truly viable proposition.
The system was chosen to create around 1,200m2 of exterior
ceilings which are a very visible design feature of the building.
During the project, Knauf Specification Managers and
specialised Technicians made frequent visits to the site, to
supply the project engineers with technical details as well
as to ensure that everything was installed using the correct
procedures. Thanks to the fact that AQUAPANEL2 Cement
Board is a drylining system, installation went quickly and
smoothly.
The Acropolis Museum is a museum inside the city so
I wanted to be able to combine the most up-to-date
technology and ancient materials says Bernard Tschumi.
The plan was to combine materials such as glass, marble
and concrete. The exterior ceiling solution was realised
through the advantages of the AQUAPANEL2 Cement Board
technology. All these materials truly represent the city of
Athens and the Acropolis.

AQUAPANEL1 Cement Board Outdoor offers all the benefits of a dry

panel system with the strength of brick and block.

AQUAPANEL1 Cement Board Indoor is the ideal tile backing board for
wet and humid areas.

Knauf USG Systems GmbH & Co. KG

Zur Helle 11
58638 Iserlohn
Germany
www.aquapanel.com

AQUAPANEL2 is a registered trademark of Knauf USG Systems GmbH & Co. KG

Knauf USG Systems GmbH & Co. KG reserves the right to change specifications or design and supply
products which may differ from those described and illustrated without notice and without liability.
All weights and measures are nominal.
2009 GB 03/09