L'Italo-Americano

www.italoamericano.org 10 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021 L'Italo-Americano " When I was a boy g r o w i n g u p i n Genova, my home- town, I loved two things: one was the sea and the other was cine- ma. The sea is immense to e x p l o r e , a n d c i n e m a i s something that takes you in a different world, a fanta- stic world." Italian architect Renzo Piano spoke about his pas- sion for movie-making as soon as he took the stage during the opening of the new Academy Museum o f M o t i o n P i c t u r e s i n Los Angeles. Pritzker Prize- winning Piano renovated the 1939 Saban building, located on the intersection o f W i l s h i r e a n d F a i r f a x , adjacent to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, as well as the famous La Brea Tar Pits. The Italian archi- tect added the Sphere – a domed structure housing screening theatres, topped by a terrace sheltered under a curving glass roof. " W h e n I b e c a m e a n architect, I was always jea- lous of filmmakers, because movies are the most impor- t a n t w a y t o c r e a t e e m o - tions. In a movie, there is everything: action, light, s h a d o w s , m u s i c , p h o t o - graphy. Everything is there. It's an art that can bring people to tears. Cinema has a lot in common with the work of an architect. Light and shadow are the essence of this building as well," P i a n o , w h o s e r e c e n t p r o j e c t s i n c l u d e t h e S a n Giorgio bridge in Genova, Italy, and a condo tower in Miami, explains. The museum is dedica- ted to the art and science of f i l m m a k i n g . I t i s o w n e d a n d o p e r a t e d b y t h e M o t i o n P i c t u r e Academy, the organiza- t i o n b e h i n d t h e a n n u a l O s c a r s a w a r d c e r e m o n y . T h e r e n o v a t e d S a b a n Building and the Sphere w i l l e n c o m p a s s 5 0 , 0 0 0 - square-feet (4,600 square meters) of exhibition space, t w o t h e a t r e s , a s h o p , a r e s t a u r a n t , a n d a s t u d i o n a m e d a f t e r S h i r l e y Temple. Two glass and steel b r i d g e s c o n n e c t i n g t h e S a b a n B u i l d i n g a n d t h e Sphere were named after actress Barbra Streisand and entertainment executi- v e C a s e y W a s s e r m a n respectively. Piano created the spheri- cal extension out of steel and concrete, overlaid with 1,500 glass shingles cut into 146 different shapes and s i z e s b y f a b r i c a t o r s i n Austria. The glazed pieces form a transparent dome over the terrace, which has v i e w s o n t h e H o l l y w o o d Hills. "This building is a soap b u b b l e . D o n ' t c a l l i t t h e Death Star! Call it the zep- pelin, a zeppelin that takes you in a different world, like a spaceship, a flying vessel, ready to land or take off. This bubble will never blow up." Piano jokingly commented, when talking about the museum's roun- dish shape. The 300,000 square foot space is split into two sec- t i o n s . T h e r e ' s t h e S a b a n Building (where most of the gallery exhibitions are) and the David Geffen Theater: a 1,000-seat theater, connec- t e d v i a a n a b o v e - g r o u n d t u n n e l t o t h e S a b a n Building, will show films year-round, many in tan- dem with exhibitions. "Making a building is a common adventure, it's a collective effort. So I have to thank a thousand people: the Academy, my collabora- t o r s , m y p a r t n e r s … S o many people. I am not good at doing anything alone so i t ' s a l w a y s i m p o r t a n t t o work in a group. And besi- des this, it was also a plea- sure." Concluded Piano. The building's distinctive g o l d e n c y l i n d e r o n i t s northwest corner has been given a facelift, with one- third of the 350,000 gold leaf mosaic tiles replaced by the original Italian manu- facturer. Among the attendees of t h e c e r e m o n y w e r e B i l l Kramer, director and presi- d e n t o f t h e A c a d e m y M u s e u m o f M o t i o n Pictures; David Rubin, pre- sident of the Academy of SILVIA GIUDICI Renzo Piano at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures opening Press Conference, September 21, 2021 (Matt Petit /Academy Museum Foundation) I t a l i a n a r c h i t e c t R e n z o P i a n o unveils the new Academy Museum of Motion Pictures NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS Continued to page 12

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