The art of tomorrow in Flaminio The Via Flaminia, an ancient military road leading to the Adriatic, lent its name to the Flaminio district, for a long time home to a garrison with numerous barracks. The National Museum of 21st Century Arts (MAXXI) occupies the site of one of them. Designed by Zaha Hadid, it opened in 2010 in direct competition with the new wing of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MACRO), designed by French architect Odile Decq and opened the same year. Very controversial, of course—this is Rome, after all— MAXXI, under artistic director Hou Hanru (photo), is an innovative, spectacular structure made entirely of exposed concrete and glass. It houses a permanent collection of contem- porary art (Stefano Arienti, Francesco Clemente, Sol LeWitt, William Kentridge, among others), and also has a mission to collect, preserve and showcase 21st-century architecture through often new temporary exhibitions. The recently launched MAXXI Bulgari Prize honors Italy’s young contem- porary artists, whose works are exhibited here. MAXXI–MUSEO NAZIONALE DELLE ARTI DEL XXI SECOLO Via Guido Reni, 4A. Tél. +39 06 320 1954. www.fondazionemaxxi.it 113 stcetihcrA didaH ahaZ ©