Building A Workshop with RPBW: An iconography of the past, a blueprint for the future

'Building A Workshop', a docu-style video production by STIR with RPBW, looks at the ‘everyday’ of one of the biggest architectural practices in the world, Renzo Piano Building Workshop. The video essay encapsulates the essence of STIR's visit to RPBW's offices in Paris, France, and Genoa, Italy, delving into what goes on behind-the-scenes of creating some of the most instantly recognisable buildings across the world, shaped by attention to detail, intensive placemaking, and a tried and trusted process — the RPBW method. Between a bustling metropolis and a quiet ocean-side base, between respective urban landmarks in Centre Pompidou and the Genoa Waterfront, and between the plethora of studio discussions, models, drawings, sketches and disquiet deliberations, both the film and the studios come alive.

Founded by Pritzker Prize laureate Renzo Piano in 1981, the practice has since evolved into an iconic global force in the profession, with its distinctive architecture helmed by its eleven partners alongside Renzo, and a team of highly enthusiastic professionals. Through six in-depth interviews with many of the firm's partners, associates, and architects leading some of the firm’s ongoing projects today—'Building A Workshop' probes and picks the minds of the firm's top talent, including Albert Giralt, Daniele Franceschin, Elisabetta Trezzani, Antoine Chaaya, Luigi Priano, Emanuela Baglietto, Hiroko Nakatani, Paolo Pelanda, and Giorgio Bianchi, alternating between their journeys so far, and their visions for the Workshop into the future.

The film takes its viewers from the practice's workstations, its model workshops, meeting rooms, material libraries, and the Foundation, to some of its most remarkable projects in the city and the very streets they enliven. Through the journey, ‘building’ is unpacked as both a noun and a verb; a constant reflection on their current state of being as well as a push to continued excellence that makes the Workshop what it is.

Read the experiential feature chronicling STIR's visit here: http://bit.ly/4osB5DK

Videography: Matteo Cigala
Video: Courtesy of STIR

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