MAXXI : Museum of XXI Century Arts
Architect - Zaha Hadid
Location - Rome, Italy
About the Project
The structure was built between 1998-2009. The structure is 30,000m2 in total.
‘’The MAXXI - the National Museum of the 21st century Arts, built by Zaha Hadid Architects in Rome - is an architectural icon that is representative of our time, but is, in particular, a work that is the fruit of a technical-constructive complexity, which necessitated the putting in place of specific and very articulate realization procedures. The structure was strongly supported by the (at the time) Ministry for Cultural Heritage. Its erection would have been the answer to the already long manifested demand to create an Italian public museum to gather inside, the greatest testimonies of contemporary creativity in the fields of art and architecture. For its construction, it was then chosen a flat area located within the Flaminio district - bounded on one side by the Tiber River and on the other side by the historical via Flaminia - and occupied by army barracks and military buildings’’ (1)
‘’The MAXXI - the National Museum of the 21st century Arts, built by Zaha Hadid Architects in Rome - is an architectural icon that is representative of our time, but is, in particular, a work that is the fruit of a technical-constructive complexity, which necessitated the putting in place of specific and very articulate realization procedures. The structure was strongly supported by the (at the time) Ministry for Cultural Heritage. Its erection would have been the answer to the already long manifested demand to create an Italian public museum to gather inside, the greatest testimonies of contemporary creativity in the fields of art and architecture. For its construction, it was then chosen a flat area located within the Flaminio district - bounded on one side by the Tiber River and on the other side by the historical via Flaminia - and occupied by army barracks and military buildings’’ (1)
The space is unique and extremely modern. It houses works of art, while being a masterpiece in its own right. It is the wondrous combination of the efforts of contemporary technologies, with the delicacy of beautiful design which makes this space so breath-taking. It is a dynamic and interactive space. It is a ‘new fluid kind of spatiality of multiple perspective points and suspended black fragmented geometry, designed to embody the chaotic fluidity of modern life.’’ (2)
‘’MAXXI supercedes the notion of the museum as an ‘object’ or – presenting a field of buildings accessible to all, with no firm boundary between what is ‘within’ and what is ‘without’. Central to this new reality are the confluent lines – walls intersecting and separating to create interior and exterior spaces. ''(3)
About the Architect
Zaha Hadid (1950-2016) was born in Baghdad Iraq and studied at the American University in Beirut in the field of mathematics. In 1972, she moved to London to study Architecture and graduated in 1977. She then went on to join the OMA, which is the Office of Metropolitan Architecture. Aswell as this, she taught other students at the Architectural Association.
In 1980, she started her own practice in London. Since her exhibition at the AA in London in 1983, her architecture has been shown in exhibitions across the globe. She had a passion for art and drawing, which is perhaps why her buildings are so creative in their form and structure. She is a world renowned architect, whose projects have greatly impacted the future of architectural design. She is known for pushing the boundaries of architecture. (4)
Zaha Hadid (1950-2016) was born in Baghdad Iraq and studied at the American University in Beirut in the field of mathematics. In 1972, she moved to London to study Architecture and graduated in 1977. She then went on to join the OMA, which is the Office of Metropolitan Architecture. Aswell as this, she taught other students at the Architectural Association.
In 1980, she started her own practice in London. Since her exhibition at the AA in London in 1983, her architecture has been shown in exhibitions across the globe. She had a passion for art and drawing, which is perhaps why her buildings are so creative in their form and structure. She is a world renowned architect, whose projects have greatly impacted the future of architectural design. She is known for pushing the boundaries of architecture. (4)
Critique of the design in terms of light
Daylighting is an important aspect of this design. ‘’Natural lighting has been achieved through the use of thin concrete beams on the ceiling, together with glass covering and filtering systems. The same beams have a bottom rail from which artwork can be suspended. The beams, staircases and linear lighting system guide visitors though the interior walkway, which ends in a large space on the third level. From here a large window offers a view over the city.’’ (5)
Daylighting is an important aspect of this design. ‘’Natural lighting has been achieved through the use of thin concrete beams on the ceiling, together with glass covering and filtering systems. The same beams have a bottom rail from which artwork can be suspended. The beams, staircases and linear lighting system guide visitors though the interior walkway, which ends in a large space on the third level. From here a large window offers a view over the city.’’ (5)
It is an amazing achievement that such a large space relies mostly on the use of daylight rather than artificial lighting. The large windows which offer amazing views, are important in the feeling of the space. This view allows the occupants to connect with the outside world, and to realign their circadian cycles.
The filtration of light results in a much softer lighting scheme. Artificial lighting is concealed in order to create a sleek design and to focus on the daylight. The interior of this building is highly unusual, with free flowing forms mirroring the effects of cascading water.
The use of colour in the building is intrinsically linked to lighting. The black areas of the museum absorb rather than reflect light. This is important on the stairwell so as not to emit light into the eyes of the visitors using it. The white areas reflect light, adding a luminosity to the room and making the space appear much larger.
(1) The Maxxi Museum in Rome: An integrated survey experience for the restoration of contemporary architecture. 2017. 22-22 May. Available at; https://www.int-arch-photogramm-remote-sens-spatial-inf-sci.net/XLII-5-W1/187/2017/isprs-archives-XLII-5-W1-187-2017.pdf
(2) The Colours Of : Frank O. Gehry, Jean Nouvel, Wang Shu and Other Architects, edited by Erik Mattie, Walter de Gruyter GmbH, 2015. Available at; http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/ucd/detail.action?docID=1787183.
Created from ucd on 2020-10-27 07:17:45.
Created from ucd on 2020-10-27 07:17:45.
(3) Zaha Hadid Architects/ Architecture Archive. Accessed on the 25th of October 2020. Available from https://www.zaha-hadid.com/architecture/maxxi/
(4) Pullitzer Prize/ Zaha Hadid. Accessed on 25th October 2020. Available at https://www.pritzkerprize.com/biography-zaha-hadid#:~:text=Zaha%20Hadid%20(1950%2D2016),of%20Metropolitan%20Architecture%20(OMA)
(5)The Colours Of : Frank O. Gehry, Jean Nouvel, Wang Shu and Other Architects, edited by Erik Mattie, Walter de Gruyter GmbH, 2015. Available at; http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/ucd/detail.action?docID=1787183.
Created from ucd on 2020-10-27 07:17:45.
Created from ucd on 2020-10-27 07:17:45.
Images
Images 1-6 Zaha Hadid Architects/ Architecture Archive. Accessed on the 25th of October 2020. Available from https://www.zaha-hadid.com/architecture/maxxi/
