Architect – Renzo Piano

Renzo Piano is an Italian architect, born in 1937. He is best known for the George Pompidou Centre, The Shard, and the Whitney Museum of American Art. Born into a family of buildings he studied architecture at the Milan Polytechnic University.  His first appearance on the international scene came working on the Pavillion of Italian Industry in Osaka, Japan.  There he attracted the attention of Richard Rogers a British architect.  They formed the firm of Piano & Rogers, went on to design the Pompidou Centre, and well…



The Centre Georges Pompidou was built in 1971 in the postmodern/high tech style with Richard Rogers. It is in the Beaubourg area of the 4th arrondissement in Paris. With pipes exposed outside as opposed to hidden within it was quite controversial. It houses a library and an art gallery. I think it’s great! Give it a moment, it is said to be love at second sight.

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Los Angeles, California is to be completed in 2018. It will the dedicated to the art and science of movies and is located on Wilshire and Fairfax in Los Angeles. More pics here.

Auditorium Parco Della Musica, Rome, Italy – This large public music complex has 3 indoor concert halls and outdoor theatre built in 2002. When during construction the foundation of a villa and oil-press dating back to the 6th century were found. Piano adjusted his design to incorporate the ruins and added a museum to his plan. It is Europe’s most visited music facility.

Valletta City Gate – This complex reorganizes the main gate to the city of Valletta. It comprises the city gate, open-air theatres, the former Royal opera house, and the construction of a new Parliament building. A very elaborate construction and in sharp contrast to the older buildings.

The Jean-Marie Tjibaou Tjibaou Cultural Center is patterned after a traditional Kanak Grand Hut design. It comes after a conflictual history between Kanak people and the New Caledonia’s European-descendent rulers. The 10 structures vary in size between 20 to 28 meters and stunning testaments to a tentative reconciliation.

The Shrine of Padre Pio, San Giovanni Rotondo completed in 2002 can accommodate a congregation of 6000.

The Auditorium Aquila was completely designed of timber. The wooden components were pre-cut and delivered to the site as a flat-pack, before being screwed and nailed together. It houses a 238 seat auditorium.

Eight Seven Park Residences in Miami, Florida. These luxury condominiums are designed to blend sky, sea, and ground. The building is constructed between two parks.

The Harvard Art Museums consists of three museums. The expansions were constructed between 2008 and 2013. Its different floors target the community, the art, and the art students. A large storage space for the art not on display was incorporated into the design.

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art LACMA is the largest art museum in the western United States. Piano’s principal thrust was to create an entry pavilion to unite the sprawling complex. Funny was just watching an episode of Modern Family where they were visiting the museum.

The MUSE Museum of Science is characterized by a refined, futuristic profile, a homage to the peaks of the mountains that surround Trento.

Peek & Cloppenburg flagship store is a mix of glass, steel, stone, and wood. The building is massive but sculpted into curvacious shape thus reducing its mass.

The Fondation Jerôme Seydoux-Pathé has as mandate to preserve Pathé’s heritage and to promote cinematographic art. This amazing building, which appears to be an organic creature, was designed for them and built in 2014 mostly in the courtyards of existing buildings. It’s appearance changes from one angle to another. I suspect from a controversial point of view it must have been the Pompidou Centre of 2014.

Zentrum Paul Klee is a museum dedicated the artist Paul Klee. Its shape is that of three undulations blending into the landscape. Its need was created when in 1997 Klee’s daughter donated her inheritance of over 600 pieces to the city.

The Biosphere near the Acquario di Genova. Was built for the G8 Meetin held in Genova in 2001.

The New York Times Building. Completed in 2007,  is a 52-storey tower in Midtown Manhattan.

The Shard in London, England. This 1016 feet high skyscraper is the tallest building in Western Europe. It is a mixed-use building including offices, hotel, apartments, spa, shops and restaurants, and, a 15-storey viewing gallery.

The Whitney Museum of American Art. Planning started in 1981 it was finally completed in 2015 to critical acclaim.