Renzo Piano in Fort Worth

When the San Francisco Academy of Sciences was rebuilt a few years ago, I was more excited about the architecture than the science. While the science is impressive, the building was designed by Renzo Piano, and it has, among other things, a green roof, intelligent ways to use water and electricity, and the most beautiful indoor rainforest. It’s one of the most architecturally stunning contemporary buildings I’ve ever seen, and I became a big Renzo Piano fan. I have also seen his NEMO science museum in Amsterdam which looks like a big fish, and the appropriately named The Shard in London. I don’t have pictures of those, because I wasn’t doing a blog then. You’ll have to trust me on that.

When I went to Fort Worth, Texas, last week, I went to visit another Renzo Piano building, the Piano Pavilion, which is part of the Kimbell Art Museum.

The building is divided into two parts, the front entrance hall with galleries on each side (no photos in there, I tried), and the back side which has another gallery and an auditorium.

Exterior, South

Entrance Hall

Steps going down to the auditorium

I wanted to lick that wood. No licking allowed. If they’re looking.

Between the two halves of the building, there is an outdoor picnic area.

Hallway over the stairs, looking from the rear building to the entrance hall.

Entrance hall with cafe seating. Nice place for stretching your legs!

Now that I’m a fan of Renzo Piano, I look forward to going places where I can see his works. Maybe I’m delusional, but I feel like I’ve got friends waiting for me in many places--friends who are lovely buildings.

We’re going to Paris in a couple of weeks, and I can’t wait to visit the Georges Pompideau Center, designed by a team including Renzo Piano. The building’s guts are on the outside, instead of tucked away where you can’t see them. I think it’s best seen in this Electric Light Orchestra video.

Have you seen any Renzo Piano buildings? Did you like them?