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MAXXI, Rome
MAXXI is no ordinary gallery. Italy’s first national museum dedicated to 21st-century art, an adventure in architecture designed by Zaha Hadid, won the 2010 RIBA Stirling Prize.
Key information
Architect
Zaha Hadid Architects
Client
Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna
Value
€150M
Year of Completion
2011
Sector
Services
Context
This groundbreaking gallery opened in Italy to great critical acclaim. MAXXI (a play on the Roman numerals for 21) is a 30,000m2 building composed of ribbon-like, free-flowing, monochrome gallery spaces that weave unexpectedly between inside and outside.
Designed to be a flexible space for permanent and temporary exhibitions of contemporary art, MAXXI is home to paintings, sculpture, film, dance and live performances, with space for large scale works of art. We worked closely with Zaha Hadid Architects on their confluent design to bring carefully controlled daylight into every gallery space, creating an inspiring connection to nature without compromising comfort or exposing artworks to light damage.
Daylight and invisible engineering
Natural light plays an important role in the gallery design, with a flowing glass roof that guides visitors through each space.
With an impressive 2,600m2 of glass, the galleries and spaces are illuminated with carefully controlled natural light. We carried out extensive modelling to develop a carefully designed glazing and shading system that manages daylight and minimises solar heat gain, meeting the high standards of conservation required by museums to protect artworks and create a comfortable environment.
To seamlessly complement Zaha Hadid’s signature style and design vision, we carefully concealed all services into the fabric of the building, so nothing is on show. These hidden systems allow the internal environment to adapt as the seasons change to keep them appropriate for the artwork and visitors, while minimising energy use.
Gallery
Total of 3 images
© Hufton + Crow
© Hufton + Crow
© Hufton + Crow
Quote
“The whole [museum] is bravely day lit with a sinuous roof of controllable skylights, louvres and beams. At the same time the space conforms to the strict climate control requirements of modern galleries – the skylights both orientate and excite the visitor, but also create uplifting spaces.”
Awards highlights
| 2010 | RIBA Stirling Prize |
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