MAXXI nearing completion in Rome

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

With awful pictures of the human and cultural tragedy in Italy’s Abruzzo region filling the media in the wake of Monday’s devastating earthquake, now might be a good moment to add some inspiring images that look forward to a highly anticipated cultural event in Rome. MAXXI, the National Museum of 21st Century Arts -- ‘21’ corresponds to the Roman numerals ‘XXI’ in the museum’s name -- is currently completing construction on Via Guido Reni, north of Vatican City.

The $200-million art and architecture museum is a bit behind schedule. The site was chosen in 1998, and an anticipated 2009 opening has been pushed back to an as-yet unspecified date next year. (Programs in nearby temporary exhibition spaces have begun.) But it’s pictures of the remarkable, 228,000-square-foot new building designed by London-based architect Zaha Hadid that set the imagination spinning.

MAXXI’s website has some. But for a terrific inside look at what is in store, visit the blog C-Monster: There you’ll find a slew of compelling pictures from a recent tour of the construction site.

-- Christopher Knight