The ‘Ara Pacis’ in a New Modern Era

Conceived in 1996 and completed in 2006, the Ara Pacis Augustae Museum arises as a house for Caesar Augustus’ peace altar, located on the banks of the Tiber River just in front of Augustus’ own mausoleum. It emerged by virtue of the patronage of Rome’s City Council and the Superintendency of Rome’s Cultural Heritage in order to seek a renewed modern image of Rome (Strazzulla 2009, 3). Walter Veltron, the mayor in charge, entrusted the architect Richard Meier with the construction of this architectural landmark in the historical urban profile of Rome. It is considered the first modern building…