Contemporary Rome

Pictures:

#1: Renzo Piano's Outdoor amphitheater 

#2: Piano's auditorium (the biggest and best)

#3: Olympic arena structure

#4: Interior of arena (crazy dome structure)

#5: Zaha Hadid's building... not fitting well in context?

#6: Interior of Richard Meier Building

#7: The Ara Pacis, dating to 9 BC

#8: A Mendini "Proust" chair

July 8th:

Contemporary architecture in Rome? You must be joking...

But it's true! We took our first contemporary architecture tour today with Luigi, a practicing Roman architect. We began our tour at Renzo Piano's Auditorium for Music, which I had studied before, but didn't realize was in this city. It is an amazing design, but with an odd roof structure that resembles an armadillo. But the interiors were spectacular, as well as the site plan, with three different auditoriums of varying sizes surrounding a central outdoor auditorium (that acts as an agora).

Then we visited an arena used for the 1960 Olympics that were held here. Another building that I studied (in Structures class) that I had no idea was here. It was an interesting building, but in poor disrepair. I can't remember who designed it...

We also stopped by Zaha Hadid's current project. Well, it's not really current, because it was designed in 1993, and was scheduled to be completed in 1996. It has cost 120 million euros so far (double the original budget). As well, it is going to be a Contemporary Art Gallery, so they still have to buy the art for it. Yikes!

Lastly, we visited Richard Meier's Ara Pacis Museum (the same designer for the Getty Museum).  It is beautiful with its white travertine and interesting light and water displays.  It houses the Ara Pacis (Altar of Peace - commemorating the Pax Romana).  It also has temporary art exhibits, and this one was featuring Mendini, an Italian architect who also designs things like coffee pots and chairs.  The one thing they all have in common?  Color.  His designs were great, but I really enjoyed looking at his sketches.