The day I went to see my father to say I wanted to become an architect, he was a bit surprised, because for him being a builder is much more than being just an architect. He was very angry, and I never thought I could do something else. Renzo Piano Read Quote
In a way I spend my entire life stealing from everything – from the past, from cities I love, from where I grew up – grabbing things, taking not only from architecture but from Italy, art, writing, poetry, music. Renzo Piano Read Quote
When you design a building, you start from a general philosophy, and you come down, and you start from detail and come up. Only the theoretical architect believes that you can make the concept and then sometime, somebody will come to build it. Renzo Piano Read Quote
As an architect, you have to provide a shelter to enjoy art. And you have to love art. It’s like when you make a concert hall. You must love music. This is the reason why you make the space, to enjoy music – making a space for art is the same thing. Renzo Piano Read Quote
In some way, people believe that if you are permeable, if you are a good listener, you don’t have the quality of somebody with a firm attitude. This is what, fundamentally, I got from my mother. Renzo Piano Read Quote
A piazza is not a plaza. The plaza is the theme park of the piazza; the plaza is the commercial version. A piazza is an empty space with no function. This is what Europeans understand. Renzo Piano Read Quote
I don’t want to be romantic, but one of the most important things is to have happy buildings… it’s like having a family with a lot of children. Renzo Piano Read Quote
Enjoying art is a personal matter. It’s made up by contemplation, silence, abstraction. Renzo Piano Read Quote
You have to accept as an architect to be exposed to criticism. Architecture should not rely on full harmony. Renzo Piano Read Quote
