Illustrated with sumptuous color photographs as well as plans, drawings, and models, this book traces the creative process that led to the museum design and documents the complexities of its construction on a contested archeological site. Its distinguished contributors offer reflections on the celebrated “content” of the museum—its priceless collections that document the ideals, aspirations, and ways of life of the former citizens of Athens—and its difficult and often contested “context”; the singular career and bold preoccupations of its architect, Bernard Tschumi; and the myriad challenges encountered in both design and construction.

Among the essays is an expansive construction chronology, accompanied by never-before-seen photographs documenting the procedures and decisions made on-site, which offers a window onto this unique cultural achievement.