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The Architect Who Built The Shard in London:10 Amazing Facts to Know

The Shard is a 72-storey skyscraper that was designed by Renzo Piano, an Italian architect. The Shard is located in Southwark, London and it forms part of The Shard Quarter development.

Its construction began in March 2009 and it was completed on March 2012, 3 years later. Later in 2012, July, 5 the building was inaugurated.

The interesting thing about Shard is that it is the tallest building in the United Kingdom, as well as the 17 tallest building in Europe. Shard is also the second-tallest free-standing structure in the United Kingdom.

1. He Came From a Family of Builders

It is amazing to note that the architect of Shard comes from a family of builders. His family lived in Genoa and his grandfather, father, uncles, and brother were all builders. It is interesting for him to choose to become an architect despite him coming from a constructors family.

Renzo鈥檚 grandfather created a masonry enterprise which was later expanded by Carlo Piano Renzo鈥檚 father together with his brothers into a firm Fratelli Piano. The firm grew and became popular after World War II by constructing houses and factories as well as selling construction materials. Later, when Carlo Piano retired the firm was left under Renzo鈥檚 brother, Ermanno.

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2. His Passionate for Architecture Developed when he was Still Young

Renzo Piano鈥檚 passion for architecture started when he was still young. The fact that he grew up seeing builders and associating with builders in his family did not stop him from pursuing his career.

When he was 17 years old, Piano approached his father concerning his idea of going to architecture school. His father at first was not in support and wondered why can鈥檛 he just be a builder. 鈥淲hy do you want to be just an architect? You can be a builder,鈥� was his father鈥檚 response.

Eventually, Piano pursued his architectural career at the Polytechnic University of Milan and the University of Florence and graduated with a dissertation in 1964.

3. Piano Was a Family Man

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When Renzo was still studying architecture at the Polytechnic University of Milan, he married a girl he had met and known during school days in Genoa known as Magda Arduino. The couple was blessed with three children Carlo, Matteo, and Lia.

Carlo is now a journalist while Matteo is an independent industrial designer. Lia followed his father鈥檚 footsteps and she is pursuing a career in architecture.

Later Piano remarried and he lives in Paris together with his second wife and his four children. Three children from his first wife and one from his second wife.

4. Designed Several Notable Buildings

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Throughout his architectural career, Piano has designed several notable Buildings. The Shard is one of the notable famous buildings he designed. The Shard is said to be the tallest building in the United Kingdom and the 17 tallest building in Europe. The construction of the building began in March 2009 and was completed on July 5, 2012.

Other notable buildings the architect of the Shard designed include the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The New York Times Building, Whitney Museum of American Art, Parco della Musica, Centre Georges Pompidou, and Kansai International Airport.

5. He Worked for International Firms

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When Renzo completed his studies, he needed to expand his horizons and technical skills and hence started working for two large international firms.

The firms were owned by American architect Louis Kahn located in Philadelphia and the other one was owned by the Polish engineer Zygmunt Stanis艂aw Makowski in London.

6. Renzo was a Lectured at Several University

It is amazing to know that Piano has lectured at different universities. At Columbia University in New York, USA he attended as a visiting professor in the School of Architecture, planning, and Preservation.

Other universities he taught include Harvard University in Cambridge, USA, Politecnico di Milano in Milan, Italy, Architectural Association School of Architecture (AA) in London, UK, and Ecole Polytechnique F茅d茅rale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Lausanne, Switzerland among others.

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7. He Co-Founded Architectural Firm with Richard Rogers

Piano received his first international commission in 1970 for the Pavilion of Italian Industry for Expo 70 in Osaka, Japan. He worked together with his brother and family firm to manufacture the structure.

The Expo project attracted much attention from people including, British architect Richard Rogers. Piano and Richard realized they had a great deal in common and in 1971 they decided to establish their own firm, Piano and Rogers. The two architects worked together from 1971 to 1977.

8. The Shard, Building Designed by Renzo is the Tallest Skyscraper in Europe

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Renzo was the architect selected to design the Shard. The Shard is located in Southwark, London. The amazing thing is that architect Renzo Piano designed the tallest building in the United Kingdom and the number 17 tallest building in Europe. After the concrete tower, Shard is the second tallest free-standing structure in the United Kingdom as well.

It is said to be 309.6 meters high and its construction started in March 2009 and was completed after 3 years of construction in July 2012.

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9. Renzo has Won Several Honors and Awards

For the years Renzo has been in the architectural field, he has won several awards for the great work he has been doing. Some of the Awards he has won include;

Royal Gold Medal in 1989, Knight Grand Cross of the Civil Order of Alfonso X, the Wise in 2017, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 1990, elected into the National Academy of Design, New York City in 2013, Kyoto Prize in 1990, Gold Medal for Italian Architecture, Milano in 2006, Gold Medal of Merit for Culture and Art in 1994, Honorary doctorate from Columbia University, New York in 2004 and Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1998 among others.

10. Piano Set a Team of Young Architects, G124

When Piano was nominated as Senator in 2013 for Life, he set up a team of young architects known as G124. The main mission of the team is to work on the transformation of Italy鈥檚 major cities鈥� suburbs.

The amazing part is that the members of G124 are paid using Renzo鈥檚 senator鈥檚 salary. The project has been developed in different parts of the world such as Rome, Venice, Padua, Milan, and Turin.