area 103 | Paris

architect: Renzo Piano Building Workshop

location: Paris, France

year: 2005

Rising on a former industrial site in the Montmartre area, the scheme is composed of two small restored buildings and four new buildings positioned around a central garden and linked by an interior passageway. These new pavilions are inspired by traditional Parisian workshops; they are not very tall with glass-shed roofs to take advantage of natural light, and they are clad in terracotta. Because each pavilion was intended to house a different label of the group, they were originally designed to each have their own architectural identity with the common unifying design. Although the project underwent alterations due to a change in ownership in the final stages, the inherent flexibility of the original design allowed the scheme to easily adapt to the new needs and demands. More than just a place for business, this village of music is also a venue for music events with its community center, concert hall, and three recording studios.

photo by Michel Dénancé

project: Renzo Piano Building Workshop, architects
date: 2000-2005
project name: “EMI Music France” headquarters
client: EMI Music France
location: Paris, France
project team: P.Vincent, A.Gallissian (senior partner e associati) with T.Nguyên and J.Carter, J.Ch.Denise, G.Ducci, S.Giorgio-Marrano, P.Hendier; O.Aubert, C.Colson, Y.Kyrkos (modelli)
consultants: Ove Arup & Partners, GEC Ingénierie (strutture); GEC Ingénierie (consulente economico); Peutz & Associés (acustica); R. Labeyrie (attrezzatura audio/video); C.Guinaudeau (planting); P.L.Copat (interni); GEMO (coordinatore cantiere)
photo: Michel Dénancé

Renzo Piano was born in Genoa on 14 September 1937. He graduated from the Polytechnic of Milan in 1964. He worked in Franco Albini’s studio and completed his practical training by frequenting his father’s construction sites. Between 1965 and 1970, he made many trips for study and work to the United States and Great Britain. In this same period, he met Jean Prouvé, with whom he formed a friendship that deeply influenced his work. In 1971, he founded the “Piano & Rogers” studio with Richard Rogers, his partner on the Centre Pompidou project in Paris. In 1977, he founded the “Atelier Piano & Rice” with the engineer Peter Rice, who worked with him on many projects until his death in 1993. He then formed the “Renzo Piano Building Workshop” with offices in Paris and Genoa, in which about 100 people work (including architects, engineers and specialists) in close collaboration with some associated architects, linked to him by years of experience.