Renzo Piano was born in Genoa (Italy) in 1937 into a family of builders.
In his home city he has strong roots, sentimental and cultural, with its
historical centre, the port, the sea and with his father's trade.
During his time at university, the Milan Polytechnic, he worked in the
studio of Franco Albini.
He graduated in 1964 and then began to work with experimental light weight structures and basic shelters.
Between 1965 and 1970 he travelled extensively in America and Britain.
In 1971, he founded the studio "Piano & Rogers" with Richard Rogers, and together they won the competition for the Centre Pompidou in Paris, where he now lives.
From the early 70s until the 90s, he collaborated with the engineer Peter
Rice, forming "Atelier Piano & Rice", between 1977 and 1981.
Finally, in 1981, he established "Renzo Piano Building Workshop" with a
hundred people working in Paris, Genoa and New York.

(photography by Gianni Berengo Gardin)