The Grand Tour

Unbeknownst to me until today, Google Maps has a wide array of high-quality satellite/aerial images for cities outside the United States, particularly Europe. So to play around with this addictive site I looked for some Renzo Piano buildings scattered about that continent. Click images for satellite/aerial link and name for project link.


KPN Telecom Office Tower
Rotterdam, Netherlands
The least visually-striking aerial (it's the slightly tapered box near the center), but you'll see in the satellite link that it's near UN Studio's Erasmus Bridge and Bolles+Wilson's Luxor Theatre, among other contemporary gems.


Banca Popolare di Lodi Headquarters
Lodi, Italy
A large project centered around the circular auditorium in the middle of the aerial. Great outdoor spaces for the bank's HQ.


Centre Georges Pompidou
Paris, France
Probably Piano's most famous building. Still.


Bercy 2 Shopping Center
Paris, France
Also in Paris, but not nearly as well known as the Pompidou.


Potsdamer Platz Reconstruction
Berlin, Germany
From up here one can't even tell this urban project is covered in terra cotta.


Auditorium Parco della Musica
Rome, Italy
Definitely the most striking project from the air, and one of my favorites.


Nola Commercial and Leisure Center
Naples, Italy
Currently under construction on the outskirts of Naples, this project is more landmass than building, sure to be one of his greatest when finished.