Ara Pacis Augustae

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

The Ara Pacis Museum belongs to the System of Museums in the Municipality of Rome; it contains the Ara Pacis of Augustus, inaugurated on 30 January 9 BC. In 2006 it replaced the previous display case by the architect Vittorio Ballio Morpurgo, erected in the 30s to protect the monument.
Designed by Richard Meier and built in steel, travertine, glass and stucco, it is the first major architectural and urban intervention carried out in the historic centre of Rome since the Fascist era: it is a structure with triumphal characteristics, with clear references to the Roman imperial style. It rises elevated and brings to light the Mausoleum of Augustus on the left of the architectural structure, while large glass surfaces allow the Ara Pacis to be admired in uniform lighting conditions.
The white color is Richard Meier's trademark; the travertine slabs that decorate part of the building are instead the result of the changes made by the architect during the construction (originally aluminum surfaces were planned), after a re-examination of the project following the controversy that arose with some nostalgics of the old display case, built in 1938 ...…Wikipedia…>>