Alumnus Renzo Piano donates his archive to the Politecnico di Milano 

Fondazione Renzo Piano has opened a new space in the Nave building, at the heart of the Leonardo Campus

“I owe everything to the university: it is where I truly grew up, where I learnt everything”. Speaking to Corriere della Sera , Renzo Piano explained the decision to donate his archive to the Politecnico di Milano, which has found a home on the first floor of one of the buildings most celebrated and loved by Alumni, the Nave. 

Qui sono stati riservati 350 metri quadrati alla Fondazione Renzo Piano tra schizzi, disegni e dossier cartacei, che diventeranno una miniera d’oro per gli aspiranti architetti dell’Ateneo.  Lo spazio ospita, come dichiara la Fondazione su Linkedin, “una biblioteca, il fondo ‘Archivio Renzo Piano Architetto 1964 – 1977′ e spazi flessibili dedicati ad attività di laboratorio, studio, incontri e lezioni, per avvicinare in maniera diretta i giovani all’esperienza di oltre 60 anni di ‘fare architettura’ di Renzo Piano e dei suoi collaboratori.” 

archivio renzo piano
Credits: Fondazione Renzo Piano

But the Alumnus will also be present in person at the Politecnico di Milano. For five years, Piano will also take on the role of teacher for the first time in his career. 

“I know how important the Italian educational tradition is in stimulating the creativity hidden in young people, from Don Milani to Mario Lodi, from Loris Malaguzzi to Franco Lorenzoni: I don’t know whether I can live up to expectations. Apart from a brief experience at the Architectural Association School in London, I have helped many young architects in my firm and at my office at the Senate, but I have never really “taught”. I do however have a lot of stories to tell, true stories that might be interesting,” 

the Alumnus told the Corriere della Sera. He also added: 

“I will begin with my mistakes. I would like to confess my reservations, omissions... Twenty-year-olds soon realise when you are trying to fool them, but if I can be completely honest with them, miraculous things could happen. The first thing is to close the distance between me and these young people, to break down the apprehension, or perhaps awe, which is often felt towards someone like me. Then they will feel free to interject, ask questions and criticise.” 

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