ADAT Studio, the Rome-based architectural firm founded by Antonio Atripaldi and Andrea Debilio, announced that it has been included in the 16th Edition of Rethinking The Future Award for its development of the upcoming “Science Forest” Museum of Science of Rome (Museo della Scienza di Roma) that will open on Via Guido Reni in Rome’s emerging Flaminio district in 2027. The award follows ADAT Studio being named to the 12th Annual Architizer A+ Awards Jury Winner list in the “Unbuilt Culture” category last month. 

Having placed first in an international competition issued by the Rome Municipality, ADAT Studio’s proposal was chosen by a jury consisting of the world’s most prestigious architects and industry experts – including Daniel Libeskind, Benedetta Tagliabue, Fokke Moerel, Alessandro D’Onofrio. The brief was conceived by the Scientific Commission, which is chaired by Nobel Prize-winning Prof. Giorgio Parisi. Selected from a shortlist of five finalists to compete for one of Italy’s most important cultural institutions of the 21st century, ADAT Studio’s architectural vision for the project is based around an open-air building that will redefine the traditional museum experience by creating a public and shared space that focuses on the relationship between history, humanity and nature and how these subjects engage in constant dialogue.

Designed in collaboration with 2LMF, P’Arcnouveau, WSP and GAe, “Science Forest” will become a hub for citizens and researchers, and a new open community that surpasses conventional boundaries between public and private, natural and artificial, past and future. The complex blends into the urban fabric and future developments, connecting with neighboring projects such as Flaminio Urban Project and the new MAXXI - Green MAXXI and MAXXI hub. The design will preserve the pre-existing walls of Rome’s SMMEP (Military Establishment of Precision Electronic Materials), exemplifying a unique approach to adaptive use architecture. Simultaneously, the interior of the building defines a new public urban park merging with the adjacent planned park area. 

Spaces on the ground floor will be accessible to all visitors, and will feature a double-height foyer, a cafeteria, a bookshop and a public restaurant. Along with the urban forest that opens up to the city, these areas form a ‘diffuse gallery’ for hosting exhibitions, events and science-related meetings. ADAT Studio’s “Science Forest” is intended to become a place for gathering, studying, socializing and encouraging debates. An on-demand gallery and areas for research and management support the new terrace, offering a buffer zone for open-air exhibitions that fades the threshold between the existing volume and glass surfaces. Technological capsules of various shapes and sizes appear to float above the park, supported by a forest of artificial trees and connected by glazed bridges. 

The building is protected by a semi-transparent, open skin that allows natural ventilation and enhances the chimney effect. The roof and the south elevation are covered with PV panels, ensuring the mass production of energy for the building. Conceived as a passive bioclimatic box, the museum offers visitors an experience with plant communities in a new ecosystem. The architecture and landscape arise from a holistic methodology, enhancing the biological interactions with flora, fauna, and other natural organisms. The project aims to attain a high level of certification according to LEED® and WELL® protocols to guarantee optimal comfort conditions and reduce energy consumption. 

The Science Museum of Rome in total will span 10,000 square-meters (approx. 107,640 square-feet) of new indoor exhibition space and 5,000 square-meters (approx. 53,820-square-feet) of landscaped outdoor areas suitable for hosting exhibitions and events. A 9,000 square-meter (approx. 96,876 square-feet) auditorium, research center, foyer, offices, storage areas, services and restrooms will also be constructed in the final project. Construction of the “Science Forest” Museum of Science of Rome (Museo della Scienza di Roma), will begin in 2025.

For more information about ADAT Studio, visit www.adatstudio.com.