Obr Open Building Research

OBR was founded in 2000 when Paolo Brescia and Tommaso Principi, united by a solid friendship that originated while both were working for Renzo Piano, decided to set up a network with other colleagues, commencing an exchange of ideas among Genoa, London, New York, and Mumbai. After two decades of activity, the original group has consolidated into a Milan-based team of forty architects, conducting an experimental research practice and developing projects with strong social relevance. Open to different multidisciplinary contributions, Paolo Brescia and Tommaso Principi collaborate with several universities, including the Polytechnic University of Milan, the University of Genoa, the Academy of Architecture of Mendrisio, the Aalto University of Helsinki, the Academy of Architecture of Mumbai, the Mimar Sinan Fine Art University of Istanbul, and the Florida International University of Miami. OBR’s most significant works include the Children’s Hospital in Parma; the New Galleria Sabauda in Turin; Piazza del Vento in Genoa; Terrazza Triennale in Milan; the Lehariya Cluster in Jaipur; the Mitoraj Museum in Pietrasanta; the MIND Innovation Hub in Milan; the Bassi Business Park in Milan; the BFF Headquarters in Milan; and the Levante Waterfront in Genoa, with Renzo Piano. OBR’s projects have been displayed at the Venice Biennale of Architecture, at the Royal Institute of British Architects of London, at the Bienal de Arquitetura of Brasilia, at MAXXI in Rome, at Triennale Milano, and at the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum of New York. OBR has been the recipient of the following awards: the Urbanpromo at the 11th Venice Biennale, honourable mention at the Gold Medal for Italian Architecture at Milan Triennale, the Europe 40 under 40 award in Madrid, the LEAF Award of London, the WAN Residential Award, the Building Better Healthcare Award, the In/Arch award for best Italian architecture and the American Architecture Prize in New York.