MAXXI

MAXXI review

Works to transform this former army barracks into the Museo delle arti del XXI secolo (MAXXI) have been stop-go since building began in 2001, to a design by Anglo-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid. But the political wheel turns and at the time of writing, the person who championed the creation of a centre for 21st century arts and architecture in Rome when she was culture minister in the late 1990s is now back in government, and pressing noisily for more funds, faster. When it is finished - no one is willing to guess when that will be - it will certainly be striking but pessimists (aka realists) doubt that it will rival the Tate Modern phenomenon. For the time being, it hosts occasional interesting temporary shows.