Ara Pacis Museum was designed by American architect Richard Meier. He is well known for his rationalist designs and the use of the color white. However Ara Pacis museum has been subject to much controversy and criticism of Ara Pacis being modern architecture in ancient Rome.
For my point of view, Richard Meier intended to bring openess, transparency, lightness, use of modern materials but at the same time it's Rome. Rome is a city of travertine. Travertine seem to be as Roman stone and natural material to also use, as well as glass. Since the Ara Pacis was moved to the site, since it was taken from another location, and relocated here, it seems to appropriate to also then look back at where it was and find out what it was about that place. Then we can also in a sense that we can relate to. We are not only relating to the present situation of Ara Pacis but in a sence looking back to even before it was here in order to try to bring more of it here and to realize that this life moves on. First it was in one portion of Rome and then here now it has new museum. It's all part of that. And It seems that was appropriate to try to express in the architecture of what he was doing.
