designboom visits renzo piano building workshop in paris

designboom visits renzo piano building workshop in paris
image © designboom

the renzo piano building workshop (RPBW) is an international architectural practice with offices in paris, genoa and new york city. led by 14 partners, including founder and pritzker prize laureate, renzo piano, the company employs nearly 130 people, including over 90 architects from across the globe. since its formation in 1981, RPBW has undertaken over 120 projects across europe, north america, australasia and east asia, recently completed builds including the the shard in london and pathé foundation in paris.

on a recent visit to the french capital, designboom visited the renowned italian architect’s studio and model making workshop to get a behind-the-scenes look at where RPBW’s architectural development takes place.

the ground floor workshop is entered from the street
image © designboom

located in paris’ 4th arrondissement, the workshop can be seen through the glass storefront exterior, with a variety of tools surrounding the machinery. the office itself is accessed through a separate doorway and once inside, like an open archive, the bustling studio has long open tables where mini maquettes, books and drawings of piano’s designs are viewed alongside the architects who work in their specified project teams.

a variety of tools surround the workshop’s machinery
image © designboom

piano’s diverse portfolio of past, ongoing and future projects is spread internationally, spanning a range of building typologies. varying in size from urban planning to temporary pavilion constructions, his rooftop addition to harvard’s art museum has recently been unveiled, while the practice has also been commissioned to design ‘one sydney harbour’ in australia – part of the barangaroo masterplan. stay tuned for the much-anticipated whitney museum of american art set to open in new york, and in the meantime take a look at designboom’s comprehensive coverage of renzo piano building workshop’s acclaimed work here.

model making tools line the walls
image © designboom