Renzo Piano (1937 – Present)
Pritzker Prize-Winning Architect.
Renzo Piano was born into a family of builders. His grandfather, father, four uncles, and brother were contractors. Renzo Piano payed honor to this tradition when he named his architecture firm Renzo Piano Building Workshop.
Renzo Piano is often called a “High-Tech” architect because his designs showcase technological shapes and materials. However, human needs and comfort are at the center of Piano’s designs.
Critics note that Piano’s work is rooted in the classical traditions of his Italian homeland. Judges for the Pritzker Architecture Prize credited Piano with redefining modern and postmodern architecture.
Renzo Piano is also celebrated for his landmark examples of energy-efficient green design.
Notable Buildings:
1977: Centre Pompidou, Paris (with Richard Rogers)
1990: San Nicola Stadium, Bari, Italy
1992: Columbus International Exposition, Genoa, Italy
1994: Kansai Airport Terminal, Osaka, Japan
2007: New York Times Building
2008: California Academy of Sciences
