“Being an architect is a real adventure: being on the borderline between art and science, on the ridge between invention and monument, between the courage to go forward and true respect for tradition. An architect’s life is necessarily a dangerous one: he works with all kinds of raw materials, by which I don’t just mean concrete, wood and metal, but also history and geography, mathematics and the sciences, anthropology and ecology, aesthetics and technology, climate and society. These are the things by which he must measure himself, day in, day out. Being an architect is the best thing in the world: because, on this small planet, where there is nothing left to discover, designing is one of the few great adventures left.” Renzo Piano

His life as an architect

• Born Genoa, 14 September 1937, son of a building contractor.
• Studied at the Universities of Florence and Milan.
• Graduates from Milan Polytechnic in 1964.
• During his studies, works at the offices of Franco Albini and perfects his practical training in the footsteps of his father.
• Between 1965 and 1970: working with Louis I. Kahn in Philadelphia and Z.S. Makowsky in London; numerous study trips and research. Met Jean Prouvé: the start of a close friendship which was to have a major effect on Renzo Piano’s life and work.
• 1971: establishes Piano & Rogers partnership with architect Richard Rogers: a number of joint projects, including the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris.
• 1977: establishes Piano & Rice with Peter Rice. Continues working with engineer Peter Rice until the latter’s death in 1993.
• At present, Renzo Piano heads workshops in Genoa, Paris and Berlin, under the combined name of Renzo Piano Building Workshop (RPBW), with architects, engineers and other specialists working together, in some cases for years.

His works to date (selection)

1978	Centre National d’Art et de Culture Georges Pompidou, Paris, France.
1981	De Menil Collection, Houston (Texas), USA.
1991	The new church for Padre Pio, Son Giovanni Rotondo (Foggia), Italy.
1995	Cy Twombly Pavilion, Houston (Texas), USA.
1996	Museum of Contemporary Art, Varnamö, Sweden.
1997	Museum for the Fondation Beyeler, Basle.
1997	National Centre for Science and Technology Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
1997	Renovation and extension of Harvard University Art Museum, Cambridge (Massachusetts), USA.
1998	Convent of the Capucines, San Giovanni Rotondo (Foggia), Italy.
1998	Jean Marie Tjibaou cultural centre, Nouméa, New Caledonia.
1998	Zentrum Paul Klee, Bern, Switzerland.

Renzo Piano has won many awards and honours for his work over the last twenty years at international level, with 26 prizes, honorary memberships and doctorates honoris causa.