Muse in Trento, Trento, Italy

Trento, the regional capital of Trentino in Northern Italy and famous as the host for the Council of Trent nearly 500 hundred years ago is now achieving fame as the home of a unique museum MUSE.

MUSE was designed by the Italian architect Renzo Piano who also designed the Shard in London. The shape of this building is a reflection of the mountains that surround it. It is eco-compatible as it employs photovoltaic panels and geothermal probes that support a combined cooling, heating and power system for the whole district. A cistern collects rain water to be used for sanitary purposes, irrigating the greenhouse, fresh water for the aquariums and the moat surrounding the building. Its sustainable design and construction techniques have allowed it to obtain the Silver LEED® certification. But it is not just the one building as MUSE is part of a project to reclaim an abandoned industrial area that was formerly occupied by the Michelin factory which has become part of the city through the spread of its borders. This huge project that encompasses shopping, residential and office areas as well as recreational and cultural areas is known as the urban quarter Le Albere.

The whole development is contained in a park criss-crossed by small canals and the site of open air exhibitions of sculptures. After visiting the museum I strolled around the park where people were having picnics on the grass or sitting on the benches by the water. It was a very relaxing environment. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).