ZAHA HADID climbs the Plan de Corones >> A drop of resin nested within the rocks

Designed by Zaha Hadid, the Messner Mountain Museum is the sixth in a series of museums strongly wanted by Reinhold Messner, one of the world key figures for alpinism and mountain exploration. Each museum focuses on one particular aspect of the mountain: one, for instance, is etnographic and tells stories from the Himalaya and from the Andes, while others have a more scientific purpose. The Messner Mountain Museum’s main theme will be alpinism, narrated by objects, images and experiences collected by Reinhold Messner himself, during his high flying life.

Render © Zaha Hadid Architects

The project

The project, designed by the Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid (well known for her organic and hyper technological buildings), aims to represent the connection between man and mountain: the same connection created by alpinism. From outside, it’s only possible to see the entrance: as you proceed, some stairs lead to the exhibit area, carved in the mountain. Even from in there, the visitor’s eyes are still looking for the mountain, captured by its great beauty… this desire is fulfilled by the opposite glass façade that offers a 240° panoramic view of the surrounding mountains.

Video from: mmmcorones.com

Parametric design

The Messner Mountain Museum, is located in Plan the Corones (a popular ski destination) and it will be the first parametric building in the region of Alto Adige. Parametric design, here, is not only an extremely innovative method but also the way to get in touch with the mountains’ beauty. The museum with its fluid shapes, doesn’t want to emulate or defy the rocky environment it lays upon: it only tries to adapt and to respect its purity. In spite of the museum’s strong image, it is clear that between building and site, the latter takes over: it is just like a drop of resin, nested in the rock.

Photos by mmmcorones.com

Materials

Concrete was chosen to realize the Messner Mountain Museum, both for the interiors and for the structure. Not only for its properties and for its rock-like aspect, but especially because it’s the most appropriate material to give shape to a parametric design. The complicated lines elaborated by the computer are reproduced as negatives in giant polyestyrene moulds, then filled with alternate layers of concrete and glass fiber. With this procedure it is possible to obtain smooth surfaces.

Photos by mmmcorones.com

The construction site

Works started in 2013, the exhibit will be set up during winter 2013/14 and the museum will finally be inaugurated in summer 2015. Every winter works have to stop: the road that leads to the building area (15 km across the forest, climbing the slope) becomes unusable when it snows and temperatures are very low.