Rome’s Maxxi Museum had a troubled gestation, taking its time and courting controversy before ultimately emerging triumphant as a Stirling Prize winner in 2010 (opens in new tab), one of Zaha Hadid’s best works of the past five years. Now a new show hopes to build on the Maxxi’s archi-credentials by presenting a cavalcade of well-known Italian architects who have built internationally to great acclaim. The show, designed the New York/Naples firm of Lot-Ek (opens in new tab), set up in 1993 by Ada Tolla and Giuseppe Lignano, snakes through the galleries of the National Museum of the 21st Century Arts, encompassing a broad range of styles, periods and locations.
That breadth of content is unsurprising when you consider the exhibitors. The curators have cast the net wide, taking in the work of such well-known expatriates as the late Pietro Belluschi, Lina Bo Bardi and Paolo Soleri, all responsible, in their own singular ways, for diversifying, fragmenting and exploring different aspects of inter-war modernism in their new-found milieus of big business Manhattan, high culture South America and west coast desert subcultures respectively.
Others include current contemporary favourites Renzo Piano and Studio Fuksas (and the exhibit nods to Richard Rogers (opens in new tab)’ Italian ancestry as well), while studios as diverse as Delugan Meissl, Djuric-Tardio Architectes, Benedetta Tagliabue and Correia/Ragazzi Arquitectos highlight the global impact and diversity of Italian design talent. The accompanying catalogue includes contributions from journalists, educators and practitioners around the world, including Peter Eisenman, Shumi Bose and Hans Ibelings.
The curators have cast the net wide, taking in the work of such well-known expatriates as the late Pietro Belluschi, Lina Bo Bardi and Paolo Soleri as well as current contemporary favourites like Renzo Piano and Studio Fuksas.
Designed by the New York/Naples firm of Lot-Ek, the exhibition presents videos of key works by a slew of architects in modified industrial shipping containers, with architectural models also on show and a timeline graphic along one wall
Others include studios as diverse as Delugan Meissl, Djuric-Tardio Architectes, Benedetta Tagliabue and Correia/Ragazzi Arquitectos, highlighting the global impact and diversity of Italian design talent
Highlights from the exhibition include the Museu de Arte de São Paulo (MASP), São Paulo, Brazil, by Lina Bo Bardi, 1957-1968.
Pompidou Centre, Paris, France, by Renzo Piano, Richard Rogers and Gianfranco Franchini, 1971-1977
Karri Loop House, Margaret River, Australia, by Morq Architecture, 2007-2013
AWP office for territorial reconfiguration, Norway, by The Lantern, 2006-2008.
Maison des Arts, Université Michel De Montaigne, Bordeaux, France, by Studio Fuksas, 1992-1995.
Vocational Training Centre SSIC, by Durisch + Nolli, Gordola, Switzerland, 2004-2010.
Centre d’archives EDF, France, by LAN Architecture, 2008.
Drive-In Automobile Museum, Nanjing, China, by 3Gatti, 2009
Multi-purpose Hall, Lisieux, France, by B+C Architectes, 2011.
MoMA (Museum of Modern Art), Chengdu, China, by Studio Ramoprimo, 2008
Black & White, Brescia, Italy, by PiSaA, 2010
ADDRESS
MAXXI Museum (opens in new tab)
Via Guido Reni, 4A
Rome
VIEW GOOGLE MAPS (opens in new tab)
-
S94 Design makes the most of its uptown location to blur the lines of art and designS94 Design brings displays from Kwangho Lee, Donald Judd, Max Lamb and more to its Rafael Viñoly-designed location
-
Oasi Cashmere is taking Zegna back to its roots in the Italian Alps
Oasi Cashmere – an environmentally-conscious, all-embracing cashmere collection – is inspired by the Oasi Zegna nature park in the lush Biella Alps
-
Lynda Benglis’ seductive hall of mirrors and juicy neon eggs in London
American artist Lynda Benglis subverts expectations with new bronze sculptures and otherworldly coloured eggs in a new solo show at Thomas Dane Gallery, London
-
Venice Architecture Biennale 2023: who, when, and what to look forward to
As we start gearing up for the Venice Architecture Biennale 2023, we explore what's in store for visitors at the world's famous celebration of building design
-
Adler Spa Resort Sicily blends sustainability and relaxation
Adler Spa Resort Sicily by architect Hugo Demetz opens in southern Italy, championing sustainability and relaxation
-
The Fendi factory in Tuscany disappears into the landscape
The new Fendi Factory in Italy, set in the rolling hills of Tuscany, is the brainchild of Milan architecture studio Piuarch and the luxury brand
-
Step inside the dramatic Cava Arcari by David Chipperfield
Cava Arcari by David Chipperfield reimagines a series of caves outside Vicenza as a multifunctional event space
-
Rinascente is reborn in Rome’s Piazza Fiume courtesy of design studio 2050+
Rinascente in Piazza Fiume, Rome gets a makeover by Milan-based interdisciplinary design agency 2050+
-
This Sicilian villa brings contemporary architecture to the foot of Mount Etna
L House is a modern Sicilian villa in perfect sync with its surroundings, designed by London-based architecture practice Transit Studio
-
Sydney Modern opens its doors and reveals immersive SANAA architecture
SANAA’s Sydney Modern opens its doors to the public in Australia
-
Take the ultimate Carlo Scarpa tour of Venice
A Carlo Scarpa tour to end all tours; join our survey of modernist buildings by the Italian midcentury master in and around Venice
