Rome's Battle With Contemporary Architecture

Posted by: Mike Lydon

14 August 2008 - 11:00am

The only modern building in Rome's historic center, a Richard Meier designed museum, is considered offensive enough that it may not last in its current form.

"On the banks of the Tiber river by two baroque churches and Emperor Augustus' 2,000-year-old Mausoleum sits a marble, glass and steel structure -- the first modern building to rise in Rome's historic centre.

But unlike the ancient landmarks around it, the Ara Pacis Museum, designed by U.S. architect Richard Meier and unveiled two years ago, may not last -- at least in its present form.

Rome's new right-wing mayor, Gianni Alemanno, promised upon taking office in April to tear it down, saying it lacked "compatibility" with the heart of the ancient city."

Full Story: Is Rome the eternal city or stuck in the past?

Source: Reuters, August 10, 2008