The MAXXI museum in Rome has opened a major exhibition titled "Vitalità dell’architettura italiana 1946-2026" on May 28, inaugurated by Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli. Curated by Pippo Ciorra and Elena Tinacci, the show marks the 80th anniversary of the Italian Republic, moving beyond celebration to critically assess the state of contemporary Italian architecture. It features a video installation with eight leading architects over 65, a historical section drawing on the museum's archives, and a central section highlighting eight contemporary Italian studios born between the late 1970s and early 1980s—dubbed the "Erasmus generation"—alongside a section on emerging architects through the museum's YAP and NXT programs.
This exhibition matters because it offers a rare, comprehensive survey of Italian architecture from the post-war period to the present, connecting historical achievements with current practices and future directions. By spotlighting both established figures and a younger generation working transnationally, the show underscores the enduring civic and cultural role of architecture in Italy. It also demonstrates the MAXXI's commitment to documenting and promoting architectural discourse, making it a key event for understanding the evolution of Italian design and its global relevance.