ROME (Reuters Life!) - Iraq's Zaha Hadid, one of the world's most acclaimed architects, has given this ancient city that normally shuns modern intrusions another controversial building -- a new museum dedicated to contemporary design.
The MAXXI -- which stands for Museum of Art for the XXI Century -- is one of the few ultra-modern spaces for the arts to be built in Rome and is Hadid's biggest project so far.
The complex, now getting the final touches ahead of a public opening in the spring, will house two museums: MAXXI Art and MAXXI Architecture, as well as spaces for live performances.
"It is the first public museum in Italy dedicated to contemporary creativity," Pio Baldi, president of the MAXXI Foundation, said of the 27,000-square meter structure.
The collection will contain more than 350 works by such artists as Alighiero Boetti, Anish Kapoor, William Kentridge and Andy Warhol, as well as designs by 20th-century architects and engineers such as Carlo Scarpa, Aldo Rossi and Pierluigi Nervi.
"It's so exciting see the building finally come to life," said Hadid, who won an international competition in 1998 to design the 150 million euro complex.
Built on the site of former army barracks, the vast building contrasts sharply with the surrounding residential area.
"I think it's very important that historic cities are allowed to reinvent their future," the London-based designer told Reuters in an interview.
The building flows freely between interior and exterior, with steel stairs and columns twisting to become walls and ceilings. Lighting plays a key role as sunlight floods through the glass ceilings and the galleries' wide open spaces.
"The idea is that you will be able to view the art or live performances through the many different layers of the building, and see people moving around above and below you," Hadid said.
SPACE, OR SPACE SHIP?
Organizers hope to attract 400,000 people in the first year but not everyone loves the futuristic structure. Detractors say it looks like a space ship and call it "relentlessly hideous."
