Works for Zaha Hadid’s Mediterranean Museum in Reggio Calabria could start soon

The major project, won in 2009 by the Iraqi-born architect, who was still alive at the time, will transform the city's waterfront.

Museo del Mediterraneo. Reggio Calabria, Italy. Image courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects.

Museo del Mediterraneo. Reggio Calabria, Italy. Image courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects.

Museo del Mediterraneo. Reggio Calabria, Italy. Image courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects.

Museo del Mediterraneo. Reggio Calabria, Italy. Image courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects.

Museo del Mediterraneo. Reggio Calabria, Italy. Image courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects.

Museo del Mediterraneo. Reggio Calabria, Italy. Image courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects.

Museo del Mediterraneo. Reggio Calabria, Italy. Image courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects.

Thanks to the funds of the Italian Recovery and Resilience Plan, the process for the construction of the Museum of the Mediterranean of Reggio Calabria, Italy, by Zaha Hadid, has restarted. The architectural complex was in fact considered a “Great Cultural Attractor” in the context of the Recovery Plan of Culture, which brings €61 million, and the intervention program Pon Metro Plus for 2021-2027 injects another 60.

The project, called “Lotto Zero”, is committed to redeveloping 25 thousand square meters between the waterfront Falcomatà and the port, and includes two volumes: the Mediterranean Museum and a Multifunctional Center. The sinuous shape, typical of Hadid, recalls the radial symmetry of the sea stars, integrating into the surrounding landscape. The museum complex will span 13.400 square meters, and will also host a marine biology center, an aquarium, restoration ateliers, an archive, a library, a bar, a restaurant, a large congress hall, and exhibition spaces dedicated to permanent and temporary exhibitions.

Museo del Mediterraneo. Reggio Calabria, Italy.

Image courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects.

Museo del Mediterraneo. Reggio Calabria, Italy.

Image courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects.

Museo del Mediterraneo. Reggio Calabria, Italy.

Image courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects.

Museo del Mediterraneo. Reggio Calabria, Italy.

Image courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects.

Museo del Mediterraneo. Reggio Calabria, Italy.

Image courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects.

Museo del Mediterraneo. Reggio Calabria, Italy.

Image courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects.

Museo del Mediterraneo. Reggio Calabria, Italy.

Image courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects.