Zaha Hadid Buries A Museum In A Mountain

The sixth and final instalment of the

Messner Mountain Museum (MMM) Corones, designed by renowned architect Zaha Hadid, has been unveiled embedded in the summit of Mount Kronplatz in South Tyrol.

The museum was completed for and curated by world famous Italian mountaineer Reinhold Messner, the first person to successfully climb Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen.

Italian mountaineer Reinhold Messner 
Zaha Hadid collaborated with both Messner and Kronplatz, the largest ski resort in the region, to build the structures into the mountain.

Speaking with Dezeen Magazine, Messner said, "Located at the top of Mount Kronplatz with its unique views of the Dolomites, MMM Corones is the final piece in my series of mountain museums. Dedicated to the great rock faces of the world, the museum will focus on the discipline of mountaineering."

The building sits 2,275 metres above sea level, surrounded by the alpine peaks of the Zillertal, Ortler and Dolomites. The museum itself explores the traditions, history and discipline of mountaineering, exhibiting objects, images and tools that also tell the story of Messner's own life as a mountaineer.

Zaha Hadid designed a structure to be built into the side of the mountain, looking as if it's been buried.

Speaking to Dezeen Magazine she said, "The idea [is] that visitors can descend into the mountain to explore its caverns and grottos, before emerging through the mountain wall on the other side, out onto the overhanging terrace with its spectacular, panoramic views from Zillertal Alps in the north to the Dolomites and South Tyrol."

A pointed glass canopy will mark the entrance to the building, while a spectacular viewing platform is cantilevered over a valley.

Offering 240 degree views, the apertures and viewing platform are specifically orientated to ensure the interiors are naturally lit, while also maintaining the museum's "labyrinthine" trajectory within the mountain. It's immersion in the rockface also helps the building maintain an almost constant internal temperature.

If you're not planning to visit the Tyrol region anytime soon, MMM Corones offers a 3D virtual tour, checking out all the views and museum interiors.

Images courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects.