Richard Meier & The Peace Altar

Richard Meier is a noteworthy American architect. He designed the Getty Museum in Los Angeles. Here in Rome, he designed the museum which houses the Ara Pacis (Peace Altar). The altar was built for Emperor Augustus upon his return to Rome in around 10 B.C. So, we have an modern building housing an ancient artifact. There is a big controversy over the new building. The locals, and most critics, hate it because it sticks out like a sore thumb in a city known for it old-world charm.