Forum A+P 08

a structure like that wouldn’t stay up. But we
were sure of our facts, and passed the order
on to the German company Krupp. And so
it was that the main structure of the Centre
Pompidou was made in Germany, even if the
girders had to be delivered at night, almost in
secret. This was one case in which technique
protected art. Our understanding of structures
set free our capacity for expression.”
In 1979, Habitat, an educational television
program was produced by RAI, the Italian
government television network, starring
Piano, who says, “We set out to explain to
the non-specialist audience the principles
of construction, a few simple experiments
on structures and materials. I tried to get
the message across not to be overawed by
architecture, explaining that this century has
Beyeler Museum in Switzerland, 1992-1997
Dallas Nasher Sculpture Center, interior,
1999-2003
213