ABOUT RENZO PIANO

1. R E N Z O P I A

2. about
An Italian architect and engineer, who won the Pritzker Prize in
Piano was born in Genoa, Italy, in 1937
Following his graduation from Milan Polytechnic Architecture
School in 1964, he worked in his father’s construction company
At first, Piano became known for his collaborations with other architects. From
1965 to 1970 he worked at the firm of iconic architect Louis
Kahn in Philadelphia and with Z.S. Makowsky in London. He
established an architectural firm with Richard Rogers named Piano
& Rogers

3. awards
In 1989 Piano was the recipient of the Royal Gold Medal
In 1990 Piano was the recipient of the Kyoto Prize
In 1994 Italian Order of Merit for Culture and Art
In 1995 Piano was the recipient of the Erasmus Prize
In 1995 Piano was the recipient of the Praemium Imperiale (Premium
Imperial)
In 1998 Piano was the recipient of the Pritzker Architecture Prize
In 2002Piano was the recipient of the International Union of Architects
(UIA) Gold Medal
In 2008 Piano was the recipient of the AIA Gold Medal
In 2008 Piano was the recipient of the Sonning Prize

4. philosophy
“Architecture is a serious business being both art and a service”
His works has achieved a balance between art and function. It has also
always succeeded in being humane, intelligent and resourceful.
Space: the space of architecture is a microcosm, an inner landscape.
Space is made up of volumes, high and low volumes, compressions and
expansions, calm and tension, horizontal planes and inclined planes. They
are all elements intended to stir the emotions, but they are not the only
ones
He has been original but not revolutionary. His design solutions are the
result of analysis and research and are the best, practical answers to specific
problems. There is a sense in all his works of a problem solved —

5. works*
IBM Travelling Pavilion, (1982–84)
International Terminal, Kansai International Airport, Osaka, Japan (1991–94)
Ferrari wind tunnel, Maranello, Italy (1996–98)
Parco della Musica, Rome, Italy (2002)
High Museum of Art Expansion, Atlanta, United States (2005)
The Morgan Library & Museum expansion, New York City, United States (2003–
Central Saint Giles, London, United Kingdom (2010)
The Shard, London, United Kingdom (2000–12)
Kimbell Art Museum expansion, Fort Worth, Texas, United States (2008–13)
*These are some of the major works by Renzo Piano. In total he designed around 50 completed projects. 10 proje

6. the shard
2009-2012

7. description
In 1998, London-based entrepreneur Irvine Sellar and his then
partners decided to redevelop the 1970s-era Southwark Towers
In September 2007, preparations for the demolition of Southwark
Towers began
In November 2007, building contractor Mace was awarded the
contract to build the Shard for a fixed price of no more than £350 million.
However, this price increased to almost £435 million in October 2008
In April 2008, demolition of Southwark Towers was visibly under way,
and by October, the building had been substantially reduced in height, and
was no longer visible on the skyline. The demolition was completed in
early 2009, and site preparation began for the construction of the Shard.
According to Sellar, Piano spoke of his contempt for conventional tall

8. architecture
Renzo Piano, the project's architect, designed The Shard as a spire-like
sculpture emerging from the River Thames
Piano's design met criticism from English Heritage, who claimed the building
would be "a shard of glass through the heart of historic London", giving the
building its name, the Shard
Piano considered the slender, spire-like form of the tower a positive
addition to the London skyline, recalling the church steeples featured in
historic engravings of the city, and believed that its presence would be far
more delicate than opponents of the project alleged.
He proposed a sophisticated use of glazing, with expressive façades of
angled glass panes intended to reflect sunlight and the sky above, so that
the appearance of the building will change according to the weather and
seasons

9. architecture
The Shard was designed with energy efficiency in mind. It is fitted
with a combined heat and power (CHP) plant, operating on natural gas
In 2014, The Shard claimed first place at the Emporis Skyscraper Awards,
recognizing buildings over 100 m (328 ft) completed in the previous twelve
months.
In February 2009, a mobile crane and a small piling rig appeared on
site. In early March 2009, the crane began putting steel beams into the
ground, as part of preparations for the core of the building. Full construction
began on 16 March 2009
By March 2010, the concrete core was rising steadily at about 3 metres
(9.8 ft) a day. After a pause in March–April 2010, it continued rising,
reaching the 33rd floor in mid-June

10. architecture
The Shard's concrete core topped out at the 72nd floor in early 2011,
standing at 245 metres (804 ft). The early part of January 2011 saw
the installation of hydraulic screens, which were used to form the concrete
floors of the hotel and apartment section of the tower
The Shard is the second-tallest free-standing structure in the United
Kingdom, after the 330-metre (1,083 ft) concrete transmission tower
at Emley Moor. Another planned London skyscraper, the Pinnacle, was
originally proposed to rival the height of The Shard, but was reduced to a
height of 287.9 metres (945 ft) because of concerns from the Civil Aviation
Authority.

11. construction timeline
February 2010 July 2010 September 2010 November 2010
February 2011August 2011October2011May 2012

13. bibliography
The Architecture of Renzo Piano—A Triumph of Continuing Creativity By
Colin Amery
The Dezeen, Architectural Magazine, Architecture, Interiors and Design
Renzo Piano Building Workshop, 2007
Renzo Piano and Building Workshop: Buildings and Projects (1971-1989)
Renzo Piano: The Shard is my dream building by Simon O'Hagan, London,
2012