Ara Pacis Augustae

Richard Meier & Partners – Ara Pacis Augustae, Rome Italy, 1995-2006

The Ara Pacis Museum belongs to the Rome Municipal Museum System; it contains the Ara Pacis of Augustus, inaugurated on January 30, 9 BC. In 2006, it replaced the previous display case by architect Vittorio Ballio Morpurgo, erected in the 1930s to protect the monument.
Designed by Richard Meier and constructed of steel, travertine, glass, and stucco, it is the first major architectural and urban development project undertaken in Rome's historic center since the Fascist era. It is a triumphal structure, with clear references to the Roman imperial style. It rises elevated and echoes the Mausoleum of Augustus to the left of the building, while large glass surfaces allow for evenly lit views of the Ara Pacis.
The color white is Richard Meier's trademark; the travertine slabs that decorate part of the building are the result of modifications made by the architect during construction (originally aluminum surfaces were planned), after a re-examination of the project following the controversy that arose with some nostalgics of the old shrine, built in 1938...…Wikipedia…>>