Eames House, Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, California, United States. Architect: Charles Eames

Renzo Piano talks about his favourite buildings

Architect picks five of his favourite buildings from our book 20th Century World Architecture in today's Times

Eames House, Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, California, United States. Architect: Charles Eames  "I remember when I visited here Ray [Charles Eames's wife] made me a beautiful cake. This house is in a wonderful setting, surrounded by eucalyptus trees. This is a place where you can live out your dreams of happiness, surrounded by your family. The construction is interesting - it is made from things he [Eames] found lying around on a shelf - look at those roof beams - they came from a building site!"

 

Marie Short House - Glenn Murcutt
Marie Short House - Glenn Murcutt

Marie Short House; Kemsey, New South Wales, Australia. Architect: Glenn Murcutt "This is a fantastic house, and I have stayed here twice, with my wife. It flies above the ground. When we woke up we saw 60 kangaroos outside - it almost felt as if the house was levitating. The building consists of a sequence of almost industrial spaces, it is beautiful in its simplicity."

 

The Glass House -  Pierre Chareau & Bernard Bijvoet
The Glass House - Pierre Chareau & Bernard Bijvoet

The Glass House; Paris, France. Architects: Pierre Chareau & Bernard Bijvoet "When I was a student in Paris I always wanted to visit this house. It represents my dream of how you and an architect can keep control. The architect, Chareau, was obsessive, but in a good way. He made what is, in fact, a little building generate a huge space, a masterpiece of coherence and integrity. In this building there is a constant game being played between light and shade."

 

Prouve House -  Jean Prouve
Prouve House - Jean Prouve

Prouve House; Nancy, France. Architect: Jean Prouve "This house, which we are currently trying to restore is absolutely incredible. It was made from pieces from a factory, up against a hill. It is wonderful - small, frugal, beautiful and modest. What is so brilliant is that every time I see it I can see exactly how it was made, how the house came together."

 

Lovell Health House - Richard Joseph Neutra
Lovell Health House - Richard Joseph Neutra

Lovell Health House, Los Angeles, California, United States. Architect: Richard Joseph Neutra "Once I won some competition and the prize was to stay here - and I did, for three days and nights with my wife. Like the other buildings I have chosen everything here is small, modest. Even the toilet is small. The beauty is not in the size but in the proportions of the rooms, and you have something here that is so typical of the Pacific Rim - blasts of light, simple and yet with a very sophisticated construction" Renzo Piano was talking to Michael Hanlon. To see the full piece, click here (subscriber restricted).