Zaha Hadid has revealed images of her addition to the Messner Mountain Museum, a string of buildings dotted through the Dolomites of northern Italy.
For the sixth and final Messner Mountain Museum building, Zaha Hadid Architects has designed a softly curved building that will tunnel right through the peak of Mount Kronplatz, which forms part of the Kronplatz ski resort.
Like the five other museum buildings, the structure will house exhibitions exploring mountainous regions around the world. A pointed glass canopy will mark the entrance to the building, while a viewing platform will extend from the rockface on the opposite side.
"A composition of fluid, interconnected volumes, the 1000 square-metre MMM Corones design is carved within the mountain and informed by the geology and topography of its context," says the studio.
Construction is already underway and the museum is set to open in 2014.
The Messner Mountain Museum also includes a building in a converted castle, completed by Italian studio EM2 in 2011.
Zaha Hadid Architects has several buildings nearing completion at the moment, including a university block in Hong Kong and an undulating cultural centre in Azerbaijan. See more architecture by Zaha Hadid »
Here's a project description from Zaha Hadid Architects:
Zaha Hadid Architects will design the sixth and final Messner Mountain Museum at Plan de Corones, South Tyrol, Italy. 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.
"Located at the top of Mount Kronplatz with its unique views of the Dolomites, MMM Corones is the final 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.
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 composition of fluid, interconnected volumes, the 1000 sq. m. MMM Corones design is carved within the mountain and informed by the geology and topography of its context. A sharp glass canopy, like a fragment of glacial ice, rises from the rock to mark and protect the museum’s entrance.
Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects
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