The National Museum of Art of the XXI century, the first state museum of modern art in Italy, includes two divisions: MAXXI Art and MAXXI Architecture, which must collect, preserve, study and popularize current trends in visual arts and architecture. Already in their collection there are more than 300 works of contemporary artists (including, however, masters of the 20th century, such as Andy Warhol), as well as the archives of Carlo Scarpa, Aldo Rossi, Pierluigi Nervi, projects of Toyo Ito and Giancarlo di Carlo, an extensive collection of architectural photos.
All together they form an extensive “campus of culture”, and it is the property of the museum as a kind of territory that Zaha Hadid reflected in her project. The building was based on the Montello barracks complex; in particular, their classic façade has become the main thing for MAXXI: its main entrance is located there. However, the concrete volume of the new structure protrudes above it, an allusion to the “layering” of any construction in the Eternal City, where the new always appears on top of the old. The 21,000 m2 of interior space is enclosed in interlocking concrete volumes that resemble frozen lava flows in plan. They are also associated with the city's space: pedestrian paths connecting the surrounding quarters are laid under the cantilever protrusions of the upper tiers of the building, the walls of the first floor are largely made of glass, and the roof is also made of glass, which allows extensive use of natural light in exhibition halls.
The interior space is organized around a two-tiered atrium connecting the permanent and temporary exhibition halls, as well as the auditorium, lobby, café and bookstore. The transitions and stairs located there - intersecting black "ribbons" - contrast with the light-colored concrete walls. The exhibition space is designed in a more neutral way, its lines do not distract attention from the exhibits.
The museum also includes a library and a media library, workshops, rooms for study and recreation, open spaces for various social events.
The official opening of the MAXXI Museum is scheduled for next spring.
