Renzo Piano was born in Genoa in 1937, and is one of the most celebrated and respected architects of the 20th and 21st centuries. His worldwide breakthrough came in 1977 with the revolutionary Pompidou Centre in Paris, which he developed in collaboration with star British architect Richard Rogers. As well as the Pompidou Centre, Piano is best known for the New York Times Building (2007) and Europe’s tallest skyscraper, The Shard (2012) in London, as well as major projects all over the world including the redevelopment of Berlin’s Potsdamer Platz, the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York and the new Palace of Justice in Paris.
Individualist
Renzo Piano’s courageous style has led him to be regarded as one of the most original architects of the present day. He and his team demonstrate a masterful command of materials and construction, as well as extraordinary craftsmanship when it comes to building technology. In all of his projects, technology is a means of invigorating light, showing respect for the surrounding area and integrating the development into the natural environment.