ADAT Studio, the Rome-based architectural firm founded by Antonio Atripaldi and Andrea Debilio, introduces a new Museo della Scienza di Roma (The Science Museum of Rome) within what is called the Science Forest, an urban project in Rome’s Flaminion quarter that will redefine the traditional museum experience by creating a public space concentrating on the relationship between history, humanity and nature.

© ADAT Studio

The museum is expected by the project’s developers to become a center for both public visitors and researchers, as the complex will be close to several other unique projects in Flaminion, such as Flaminio Urban Project and MAXXI – the Museum of the Arts of the XXI Century by Zaha Hadid Architects. Just to the east of MAXXI is Auditorium Parco della Musica, designed by Renzo Piano, a “city of music” complex within a 323,000-square-foot park.

Included in the new Science Museum of Rome project will be a new public park, merging with an adjacent green space. Spaces on the ground floor of the museum structure will be open to the public, featuring a double-height entrance, cafeteria, bookshop and restaurant. Along with the Science Forest, also very accessible, all of these areas will form various galleries for hosting exhibitions, events and science-related meetings.

© ADAT Studio

ADAT Studio’s Science Forest is intended to become a place for gatherings, studying, socializing and encouraging debates. Technological “capsules” of various shapes and sizes will appear to float above the park, supported by a forest of artificial trees and connected by glass bridges.

The main building will be protected by semi-transparent, open spaces to allow natural ventilation. The roof and the south walls will be covered with PV panels, ensuring the mass production of energy for the building. Conceived as a passive “bioclimatic box,” the museum will offer visitors an experience with various flora, fauna and other organisms.

Science Forest is a sustainable project extending beyond environmental considerations. Design choices include conserving the existing façade, using polycarbonate panels for roofing, adopting lightweight facades and employing sustainable materials like Glulam wood. These choices aim for an 80 percent reduction in embodied carbon.

© ADAT Studio

The Museo della Scienza di Roma project aims to reach a high level of certification according to LEED® and WELL® protocols to guarantee optimal comfort conditions and reduce energy consumption. The construction will cost around €75 million and start in 2025, with a public opening expected in 2027. Much of it will be located in and around the former military barracks along Via Guido Reni in Rome’s Flaminion quarter.

“We are thrilled to have been commissioned to design what is undoubtedly one of the most important cultural buildings and urban projects in Rome in the last decade,” said Andrea Debilio, partner, ADAT Studio. “We believe that ADAT Studio’s acute attention to thought-provoking design, and the championing of 21st century environmental measures, will result in a museum that will truly elevate educational and cultural experiences in Rome.”

The Science Museum of Rome will span about 16,400 square feet of new indoor exhibition space, and about 6,560 square feet of landscaped outdoor areas for additional events. A 3,608-square-foot research center, reception, ticketing areas, office storage areas, services and restrooms will also be constructed.

Certainly, Rome’s new Science Museum is set to be a spectacular example of contemporary architectural design and a turning point for public and private urban science projects.