By Alison Furuto
(Read original post here)
Zaha Hadid Architects recently announced they are building the sixth and final Messner Mountain Museum at Plan de Corones, South Tyrol, Italy which is set to be completed in the summer of 2014. In collaboration with Reinhold Messner, one of the world’s most renowned mountaineers, as well as Kronplatz, the largest ski resort in the region, the Messner Mountain Museum (MMM Corones) is embedded within Mount Kronplatz. A composition of fluid, interconnected volumes, the 1000-square-meter design is carved within the mountain and informed by the geology and topography of its context.
“Located at the top of Mount Kronplatz with its unique views of the Dolomites, MMM Corones is the fi nal piece in my series of mountain museums. Dedicated to the great rock faces of the world, the museum will focus on the discipline of mountaineering,“ explains Reinhold Messner. A sharp glass canopy, like a fragment of glacial ice, rises from the rock to mark and protect the museum’s entrance.
Inaugurated in 2003, the Concordia 2000 Peace Bell was the first step in combining cultural facilities with the sporting and recreational amenities at Mount Kronplatz. The MMM Corones adds a further cultural and educational element to this popular Alpine destination.
A cascading ramp connects the exhibition spaces and creates dynamic volumes of circulation throughout three levels of temporary exhibitions, presentation areas and a small auditorium, enabling the museum to showcase its permanent exhibition together with objects, images and tools from Messner’s archive.
MMM Corones will offer 240-degree views across expansive mountain landscapes that include the Zillertal Alps, the Dolomites and the Marmolada glacier. Glazed apertures and viewing balcony are specifically oriented to ensure the museum’s interiors are primarily naturally lit while also maintaining the design’s labyrinthine trajectory within the mountain; incorporating and expressing the power of the natural tectonic system it is a part of. By immersing the built spaces inside the mountain, the museum maintains an almost constant internal temperature.
Architects: Zaha Hadid Architects
Location: South Tyrol, Italy
Design: Zaha Hadid, Patrik Schumacher
Project Architect: Cornelius Schlotthauer
Design Team: Cornelius Schlotthauer, Peter Irmscher
Execution Team: Peter Irmscher, Markus Planteu, Claudia Wulf
Structural Engineer: IPM
Mechanical Engineer + Fire Protection: Jud & Partner
Electrical Engineer: Studio GM
Client: Skirama Kronplatz, Plan de Corones
Status: Under construction
Area: 1,000m²
Date: 2012-2014
Photographs: Courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects
Messner Mountain Museum at Plan de Corones Proposal / Zaha Hadid Architects originally appeared on ArchDaily, the most visited architecture website on 22 Jul 2013.