Renzo Piano to Lead Earthquake Resiliance Building in Italy

After the earthquake of August 24, 2016 that destroyed parts of the Central Italy, Italian President Renzi created Casa Italia, a new initiative that aims not only to rebuild devastated areas, but above all, to prevent overwhelming destruction from earthquakes. The scope of this project calls for top leadership and excellence in execution – which is why Renzi appealed to a leading figure in the international architectural world: Renzo Piano.

“Security is not just a political duty, but also civil and moral,” said Genoa-born Renzo Piano, architect but also an Italian Senator for Life. Honored in 1998 by Bill Clinton with the Pritzer Prize after distinguishing himself for the combination of talent and commitment, today the architect is not talking only about building, but how easy it was to destroy: after the earthquake of 24 August,  Italy it needs a long-term program that can defend a country as beautiful as it is fragile.

In 1994, Piano designed the Kansai International Airport Terminal in Osaka, Japan, which has suffered no damage after the devastating earthquake of magnitude 6.9 in 1995. His tremendous skills are to be maximized with Casa Italia, a project that seems to have no clear end and many steps in between: its mission is to fortify the entire country against disasters, in all of its geography. A 10-year review of the terrain and structures of of Italy is required to start. The heart of the project has three main areas of concentration: water systems, schools, cultural heritage sites and homes.

-Francesca Procopio