Zaha Hadid has built a museum for the 21st century in Rome. The MAXXI, the new Italian national museum for art and architecture of the 21st century will open soon on former military grounds in the north of Rome, near the Nervis Palazetto dello Sport of Perluigi and Renzo Piano's Parco della Musica. After having long been dedicated primarily to the past, a place of cultural innovation is now being created, both in terms of content and architectural design. Zaha Hadid has freed the military grounds from the compulsion of the right angle. The museum flows – panta rhei! The concept of the architect is based on the idea of an "irrigation" of the large, urban area with linear presentation areas. Affiliated with the historical centre to the north, the complex makes a decentralised impression and invites observers to enter it.