Renzo Piano Building Workshop
Genoa - Italy
Renzo Piano Building Workshop S.r.l.
Via Rubens, 29
16158 Genova
Italy
Tel. (39) 010 61 71 1
Fax (39) 010 61 71 350
email: italy@rpbw.com
Paris - France
Renzo Piano Building Workshop
34, rue des Archives
75004 Paris
France
Tel. (33) 1 44 61 49 00
Fax (33) 1 42 78 01 98
email: france@rpbw.com
Renzo Piano Building Workshop

Beyeler Foundation Museum

Riehen (Basel), Switzerland
1992-1997

It is a calm building with a simple plan, where the lightness

of the flying glass roof contrasts with the solidity of the red
stone of the perimeter walls.
The museum consists of four bearing walls, running parallel
to the site boundary enclosure. The exhibition spaces are
linearly arranged.
To give the art its proper value, the choice was made to use
zenithal light: a steel framed glass roof with opaque glass
north lights. The many layers of the roof deflect the incidence
of the sun's rays, creating a diffuse and controlled internal
light.
The rarefied architecture of the museum provides the visitor
with a space for contemplating the works of art.
Renzo Piano Building Workshop

The Georges Pompidou

National Centre of Art and
Culture
Paris, France
1971/1977

A multifunctional centre in the heart of Paris, covering an

area of 100,000 square metres and entirely devoted to
contemporary art, music, cinema and theatre. A revolutionary
and versatile space where culture is in osmosis with the
surrounding urban environment.

The building was originally jointly designed by Renzo Piano

and Richard Rogers. Is is a humorous and coloured urban
machine, not at all "high-tech", but rather artisan instead, as
it was put together piece by piece.

All the functions of the building, including the walkways and

the plant systems, have been moved to the outside and are
characterised by a different colour, so as to obtain a vast
and totally uncluttered area inside.

The Centre Pompidou with its "piazza" form a single moulded

setting, actively providing a resource of urban and social
functions.