The complete restoration of the building-municipality of Old Archaeological Museum of Mytilene The Ministry of Culture is launching the building to be rescued and reopen as a modern museum space. The necessary studies- architectural, static, geotechnical, electromechanical installations and maintenance- received the unanimous positive opinion of the Central Council of Modern Monuments, when the project is now being integrated into the Regional Operational Program “North Aegean”.
The building is structured on two floors, with different decoration at each level, which stand out externally from a perimeter cornice. Particularly highlighted with fundamental decorative elements is the central unit of the facade, which includes the central entrance and the balcony. The interiors follow the typology of the large houses of the early 20th century. The central entrance leads through a piercing corridor with official spaces and ground floor spaces. At the back there is auxiliary entrance and stairway to the basement. The central staircase leads to the floor where private spaces and bath are developed and continues in the attic.
The Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni He said: “The building of the Old Museum is a particularly remarkable example of architecture in the last years of the Ottoman rule, integrated into the urban fabric of Mytilene, which as a whole is declared archaeological site. The building follows the spirit of eclectic neoclassicism. The building includes elements of a strong decorative character and influence, from the Movement of Modernism, which prevailed in European major cities, which is attracted with special craftsmanship to the vibrants and ceilings of the first and second floors. Significant are the damage to structural elements of the construction due to extensive building failures, such as influx of water to the roof, rising moisture at the ground floor, erosion to coatings. Studies, which were carried out by the Ephorate of Lesvos Antiquities, include the design of a new permanent exhibition, which will concern the history of Lesvos in the Great Time, as well as all the necessary work to modernize the operation of the building, in order to meet the requirements of a modern museum, with the environment.
The maintenance suggestions are for coatings, painting and relief decoration (elaborate plaster decorations, blockages), wooden elements, stone elements, cement floors, mosaic floors, metallic elements. Our aim is for the building to be restored by maintaining all the monumental characteristics of its original form, to highlight its historical value and to be reused as an archaeological museum. In terms of conservation status, the building is in a rather poor condition. Although the construction is characterized as robust, it has serious problems with the main deterioration factor in moisture and the effect of the marine environment. The new exhibition at the Old Museum will come to complement the exhibition program of the new Archaeological Museum, which is in immediate neighborhood. In this way, the visitor will be able to gain a complete experience of life in ancient Lesvos, from the Neolithic to the Roman times, but also to perceive the most important role that the island played in the Mediterranean and the ancient world. “
The interior floors of the construction are in good condition. Extensive lesions are observed in some areas on the floor and basement, floors and walls. The maintenance suggestions are for coatings, painting and relief decoration (elaborate plaster decorations, blockages), wooden elements, stone elements, cement floors, mosaic floors, metallic elements.
The main mechanical spaces are located on the ground floor of the building. For the fire protection of the building, fire protection, fire detection, alarm, loudspeaker, lighting: interior lighting, exterior lighting that will include lighting of the surrounding area of the building, public routes, and architectural lighting are installed.
The building of the old Archaeological Museum of Mytilene in the area of Kioski, built in 1912, initially hosted the Vournazou family. It is a three -storey building at the intersection of today’s Argyris Eftaliotis streets and November 8, with an area of 1834 sq.m. It is a monumental building, an academic architecture that is part of Beaux Art’s Second Empire influences. The building from 1912 to 1965 was a residence of the Vournazos family. From 1967 to 1985 it operated as a museum and offices of the Ministry of Culture and operated as offices of the Aegean Ministry for the next five years. In 1990 the building returned to the Ministry of Culture and functioned as a museum. In 2014, it was finally suspended due to serious damage.