The Judges Awards

06.4 MAXXI Museum of the XXI Century Arts, Italy, by Zaha Hadid

A spectacular arrangement of concrete shapes and wide spaces connected via sweeping sci-fi bridges, the new contemporary art and architecture museum in Rome's Flaminia district is both bright and minimal, creating a stunning backdrop for exhibiting. It is also a sculptural architectural experience in itself. The centre was designed to be flexible, hosting multifunctional spaces, galleries for art, and administration offices in its 26,000 sq m surface. The museum also features long curved walls that not only support the art internally, but also work for external shows, providing a clever platform for outdoor projections and events. The museum was awarded the RIBA Stirling Prize 2010.

Key features: An elegantly composed series of concrete volumes with impressive curves and angles

Architects' previous work: Bergisel Ski Jump, Innsbruck, Austria; BMW Central Building, Leipzig, Germany; Zaragoza Bridge Pavilion, Spain

Based: London

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