“Dimotiko Theatro (Municipal Theatre)” Metro Station, Piraeus, Greece
Permanent archaeological exhibition, 2022 – Completed
Permanent exhibition lighting, design of special luminous structures, lighting simulations and lighting calculations. ‘Dimotiko Theatro’ Metro Station in Piraeus houses the permanent archeological exhibition ‘Tales of the invisible water’ that develops in five thematic exhibition sections.
Project credits
- Client: Attiko Metro S.A.
- Joint Venture Contractor: J&P- Avax S.A.- Ghella S.P.A. – Alstrom Transport S.A.
- Ephorate of Antiquities of Piraeus and Islands: Director and General overview: Stella Chryssoulaki / Museological study and curating: Dora Evangelou / Archaeological documentation: Panagiotis Koutis, Giorgos Pappas / Architectural renderings: Aimilios Bendermacher-Gerousis
- Attiko Metro: Station Architect and Supervisor: Polyxeni Antoniou; Attiko Metro / Project Management: Evangelos Kolovos, Sissy Voutyritsa
- Designers and Curators: Museographic Design: Spyros Nasainas, Despoina Tsafou / Luminous ceiling architecture, ancient cistern presentation and exhibition construction: Elias Papadopoulos; Tetragon S.A. / Graphic design: Akrivi Anagnostaki / Video: Panagiotis Tsibiridis, Ino Theodorou, Betty Evangelinou / Replica design and construction: Dimitris Selimis
- Lighting design team: Matina Magklara, Melina Lasithiotaki
- Photos: Matina Magklara
Full Project credits in Ephorate of Antiquities of Piraeus and Islands – Ministry of Culture & Sports
Project services
Design: Concept to detailed design
Implementation: Commissioning, Focusing, Programming
Custom luminaires and luminous structures: Lighting assessment
The key lighting aspects are to create a well-balanced luminous hierarchy, to enhance the legibility of showcases, illustrations and digital displays, to create the right ambiance for the museological narrative, to integrate lighting into the station’s architecture and to meet Attiko Metro’s lighting standards in general illumination and uniformity. A tuneable white lighting system that shifts from bright and cool during morning hours to dimmed and warm during nighttime has been installed to the cisterns and wells to add a boost to the commuters’ mood. This dynamic lighting system perpetually adapts to the ever-changing sunpath via smart controls. Artificial light imitates daylight as if light was penetrating the subterranean space through the openings creating a sense of openness in “time capsules”.