In tempo per l’estate 2026 la piazza del MAXXI di Roma è tutta nuova e tutta verde dopo la depavimentazione. Le foto
The MAXXI Museum in Rome has completed the transformation of its Piazza Alighiero Boetti into a green, vegetated public space as part of the "Grande MAXXI" masterplan. Designed by landscape architect Bas Smets and his Brussels-based studio, the project involved removing sections of concrete pavement to reveal the soil, then planting trees, shrubs, and groundcover species typical of the Mediterranean context. The new piazza is intended to be cooler and more usable during summer months. A public inauguration is scheduled for June 18, 2026, featuring talks with Smets, MAXXI president Maria Emanuela Bruni, and other stakeholders.
This project matters because it represents a growing trend among Italian cultural institutions to "depave" and re-green museum plazas, transforming them from heat islands into hospitable urban spaces. By restoring natural ground and vegetation, the MAXXI not only improves its own public amenity but also sets a precedent for sustainable museum architecture and urban design. The initiative is part of a broader expansion plan that includes a future park on Via Masaccio for the MAXXI Hub, signaling a long-term investment in the museum's relationship with its neighborhood and community.