OBR Open Building Research
In 2000 Paolo Brescia and Tommaso Principi established the collective OBR to investigate new ways of contemporary living, creating a design network among Milan, London and New York.
After working with Renzo Piano, Paolo and Tommaso have oriented the research of OBR towards the integration artifice-nature, to create sensitive architecture in perpetual change, stimulating the interaction between man and environment.
The team of OBR develops its design activity through public-private social programs, promoting – through architecture – the sense of community and the individual identities.
Today OBR is group open to different multidisciplinary contributors, cooperating with different universities, such as Accademia di Architettura di Mendrisio, Aalto University, Academy of Architecture of Mumbai and Mimar Sinan Fine Art University.
Among the best known works by OBR are the Pythagoras Museum, the New Galleria Sabauda in Turin, the Milanofiori Residential Complex, the Children Hospital in Parma, the Galliera Hospital in Genoa, the Lido of Genoa, the Ex Cinema Roma, the Triennale di Milano Terrace.
The under construction projects by OBR include the Lehariya Cluster in Jaipur, the Jafza Traders Market in Dubai and the Multiuse Complex Ahmad Qasir in Teheran.
OBR's projects have been featured in Venice Biennale of Architecture, Royal Institute of British Architects in London, Bienal de Arquitetura of Brasilia, MAXXI in Rome and Triennale di Milano.
OBR has been awarded with the AR Award for Emerging Architecture at RIBA, the Plusform under 40, the Urbanpromo at the 11° Biennale di Venezia, the honourable mention for the Medaglia d'Oro all'Architettura Italiana, the Europe 40 Under 40 in Madrid, the Leaf Award overall winner in London, the WAN Residential Award, the Building Healthcare Award, the Inarch Award for Italian Architecture and the American Architecture Prize in New York.
Since 2004 OBR has been evolving its design parameters according to the environmental and energy certification LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) and since 2009 OBR is partner of the GBC (Green Building Council).

Biography

Arch. Paolo Brescia
Paolo Brescia was born in Chiavari on 6 July 1970.
After his degree in 1996 in Architecture from the Politecnico di Milano, he started in 1998 his collaboration with Renzo Piano Building Workshop.
In 2000 he founded OBR Open Building Research with Tommaso Principi.
Since 2000 he is guest professor in several athenaeums lecturing at Faculty of Architecture of the Università degli Studi di Genova, Politecnico di Milano, Università di Trieste, Luiss, Sapienza Università di Roma, Kent State University, Mendrisio Academy of Architecture, Helsinki Aalto University, Academy of Architecture of Mumbai.
From 2004 to 2005 he was university professor in charge at the Faculty of Industrial Design at the Politecnico di Milano.

Arch. Tommaso Principi
Tommaso Principi was born  Firenze on 20 May 1970.
Before his degree in 1999 in Architecture from the Università degli Studi of Genova, he studied Civil Engineering at Università degli Studi di Bologna and he worked with Renzo Piano Building Workshop.
In 2000 he founded OBR Open Building Research with Paolo Brescia.
Since 2000 he is guest professor in several athenaeums lecturing at Faculty of Architecture of the Università degli Studi di Genova, Politecnico di Milano, Sapienza Università di Roma, Università degli Studi di Bologna, Università di Messina and Kent State University.
In the 2007 he coordinated the International Workshop ICAMP for the Sustainable Developmement of the Area of The Stretto di Messina, Italy.

Projects

Completed
 MITA, Brescia, Italy, 2023
 Generali Corso Europa, Genoa, Italy, 2022
 Riviera Airport, Albenga, Italy, 2021
 Yacht Club Portofino, Italy, 2021
 Rotonda della Besana, Milan, Italy, 2021
 San Senatore Private House, Milan, Italy, 2019
 Piazza del Vento, Genoa, Italy, 2017
 ERG, Centrale di Galleto, Terni, Italy, 2016
 Terrazza Triennale, Milano, Italy, 2014
 Galleria Sabauda, Manica Nuova Palazzo Reale, Torino, Italy, 2014
 Ex Cinema Roma, Parma, Italy, 2013
 Ospedale dei Bambini, Parma, Italy, 2013
 Ponte sul Polcevera, Genova, Italy, 2013
 LH1 - LH2, London, UK, 2012
 Residenze Milanofiori, Assago, Milano, Italy, 2010
 Museo di Pitagora, Crotone, Italy, 2008
 Vema, La Biennale di Venezia, Italy, 2006
 We House, Lavagna, Italy, 2002
 Uffici Cugnasco, Cuneo, Italy, 2002

Under construction
 KGK, Jaipur, India
 Waterfront Levante Genova, Italy
 Casa BFF, Italy
 Bassi Business Park, Italy
 Museo Mitoraj, Italy

Design Competitions
 2022, Casa BFF, Milano (1st prize)
 2021, MITA Museo Internazionale del Tappeto Antico (1st prize)
 2020, MIND West Gate Innovation Hub, Milano (1st prize)
 2019, Piave Futura, Padova (2nd prize)
 2018, DEKA Office Via Pirelli 35, Milano, DEKA Immobilier (1st prize)
 2018, Mitoraj Museum, Pietrasanta (1st prize)
 2018, Unimore Campus, Modena (1st prize)
 2016, Comparto Stazioni Varese (1st prize)
 2016, Parco Centrale di Prato (1st prize)
 2016, Ex Caserma De Sonnaz  (1st prize)
 2016, Metropolis Malta (2nd prize)
 2015, Cascina Merlata, Milan (short listed)
 2015, DP World HQ, Dubai (selected)
 2015, Museo Dallara, Parma (selected)
 2014, Terrazza Triennale, Milan (1st prize)
 2014, Michelin HQ and Research Labs, Delhi (1st prize)
 2014, Atelier Castello, Milan (2nd prize)
 2014, Bayt Al Fann Jameel Arts, Jeddah (selected)
 2013, Jameel Arts Centre, Dubai (2nd prize)
 2013, Santa Margherita Ligure Waterfront (1st prize)
 2012, Via XX Settembre “Live the City in the City”, Genova (1st prize)
 2012, Cesme Waterfront, Turkey (1st prize)
 2012, Floriopoli, Termini Imerese,  Palermo (2nd prize)
 2011, Olympic Park Master plan, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
 2011, Museums of History, Science and Technology, Dalian
 2010, Fiera di Messina (1st prize)
 2010, Shantou University Center, China (1st prize)
 2010, Fengqing Square a Zhengzhou, China (1st prize)
 2009, Masterplan Polo di Funo, Bologna (1st prize)
 2009, Torrenova Città Parco, Roma (short listed)
 2009, Social Housing, Via Cenni Milano (special mention)
 2009, Nuova Sede della Provincia di Bergamo (short listed)
 2009, Venaria Urban Centre (2nd prize)
 2009, People Mover (2nd prize)
 2009, Nuovo Ospedale Galliera, Genova (1st prize)
 2008,River Douglas Bridge, Lancashire UK
 2008, Wejchert Golf Club (2nd prize)
 2008, Premio Demonte (3rd prize)
 2007, Museo Diocesano, Milano (3rd prize)
 2007, Campus Divino Amore, Roma (1st prize)
 2007, Waterfront Reggio Calabria (3rd prize)
 2006, Museo di Arte Nuragica e Contemporanea, Cagliari (short listed)
 2006, Ponte Polcevera, Genova (1st prize)
 2006, Aeroporto di Reggio Calabria (1st prize)
 2006, Ex Cinema Roma, Parma (1st prize)
 2006, Fiera Riva del Garda (short listed)
 2006, Nuovo Ospedale San Marco, Catania (2nd prize)
 2006, Residenze Varesine, Milano (short listed)
 2005, Waterfront Rapallo (short listed)
 2005, Residenze Milanofiori, Assago, Milano (1st prize)
 2004, Villa Reale di Monza (2nd prize)
 2003, Nam June Paik Museum, Kionggy, South Korea
 2003, Museo di Pitagora, Crotone (1st prize)
 2003, Galleria Sabauda nel Palazzo Reale di Torino (1st prize)
 2002, Intercittà, Eco-connections, Reggio Emilia (2nd prize)
 2001, Tomihiro Museum, Azuma, Japan (selected)
 2011, Polo Intermodale di Trieste FVG (1st prize)

Awards
 2024, MIPIM Awards 2024, Winner Best New Development, Cannes
 2022, Best Italian Project Award, IQI, Milan
 2019, RI.U.SO 06, CNAPPC, Milano
 2017, Premio Urbanistica INU, Milano
 2016, AAP American Architecture Prize for Architectural Design, New York
 2015, In/Arch International Award for Architecture and Design, Milano
 2014, Building Healthcare Award for Best International Design, London
 2014, Architizer A + Awards, Finalist, London
 2013, Ad’A Award for Italian Architecture, Roma
 2012, Gold Medal for Italian Architecture, Finalist, La Triennale di Milano
 2012, Green Good Design Award, Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design, Chicago
 2012, WAN Awards Residential, London
 2011, LEAF Awards overall winner, London
 2011, LEAF Leading European Architect Forum Award, Residential Building of the Year, London
 2011, In/Arch Ance Award, Realized architecture by young architect, Roma
 2010, Europe 40 Under 40 Award, Madrid
 2009, Gold Medal for Italian Architecture, Finalist, La Triennale di Milano
 2008, Urbanpromo Award, INU Istituto Nazionale Urbanistica, La Biennale di Venezia
 2008, Plusform Award, Best realised architecture under 40, Roma
 2007, AR Award for Emerging Architecture, Honourable mention, RIBA, London

Exhibitions
 13° Biennale di Venezia di Architettura, Common Ground, Padiglione Italiano, Venezia
 Beyond Media 03, Università di Firenze, Image, Ospedale degli Innocenti, Firenze, Italy, 2003
 Intimacy, iMage, Stazione Leopolda, a cura di Marco Brizzi, Firenze, Italy, 2003
 Graz Biennal on Media and Architecture, ArtImage, Graz, Austria, 2004
 NIB+ICAR travelling 2004, Roma, Glasgow, Belgrado, Helsinki, Finland, 2004
 Temporary, Politecnico di Milano, Teatro Franco Parenti, Milano, Italy, 2004
 2° Festival dell'Architettura, Laboratorio Italia, Parma, Italy, 2005
 Biennale del Paesaggio Mediterraneo, Progetti di Paesaggio nel Mediterraneo, Pescara, Italy, 2005
 V Biennale di Architettura, Contemporary Ecologies. Energies for Italian Architecture, Brasília, Brazil, 2006
 Architecture: Where to, Cross Borders: concepts of a unified Europe/world, London, UK, 2007
 Vivere l'ambiente: città e territorio tra crescita e sostenibilità, Hanoi, Vietnam, 2007
 XI Bienal Internacional de Arquitectura, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2007
 AR Awards exhibition, Berlin, Germany, 2008
 Arup World Architecture Festival, Barcellona, Spain, 2008
 AR Awards exhibition, Budapest, Hungary, 2008
 Un'estetica del "disordine", Ordine degli Architetti della Provincia di Milano, Italy, 2008
 AR Awards exhibition, Seoul, South Korea, 2008
 Giovani Architetti verso il futuro, Auditorium di Palazzo Rosso, Genova, Italy, 2008
 Medaglia D'Oro all'Architettura Italiana, La Triennale di Milano, Italy, 2009
 40 Under 40, Madrid, Spain, 2010
 Giovani Architetti Italiani, GiArch, Utet, Casa dell'Architettura Roma, Italy, 2010
 Better City, Better Life, World Trade Centre, Shanghai International Expo, 2010
 Dal Lido d'Albaro al Lido di Genova, Confindustria, Genova, Italy, 2010
 Laboratorio di Progettazione Architettonica, OBR, Università di Trieste, Italy, 2010
 Urban Transformation on the Waterfront of Genoa, USI Accademia di Architettura, Mendrisio, Switzerland, 2010
 Spot on Architecture, Milanofiori, Università di Firenze, Italy, 2010
 Giovani Architetti, GiArch, Casa dell'Architettura, Roma, Italy, 2010
 LEED-GBC, Approccio alla sostenibilità nel Real Estate, Genova, Italy, 2011
 Pragmatic Utopias, Aalto University, Helsinki, Finland, 2011
 ASJ TV, New Wave in Architecture, OBR Open Building Research, Tokyo, Japan, 2011
 In/Arch Ance, Roma, Italy, 2011
 Young Blood, Annual dei talenti italiani, Roma, Italy, 2011
 EDII European Design Innovation Initiative, Helsinki, Finland, 2011
 Rassegna Italiana, Università di Roma La Sapienza, Italy, 2011
 Changing Communities: does architecture have the power?, Academy of Architecture, Mumbai, India, 2011
 Bhartiya Kala Prasarini Sabha's, College of Architecture, Pune, India, 2011
 Ordine degli Architetti di Bologna, Saie, Bologna, Italy, 2011
 Rigenerazione Urbana, Catania, Italy, 2011
 Green City International Forum, Genova, Italy, 2011
 Italy Now, Congresso UIA Unione Italiana Architetti, Tokyo, Japan, 2011
 13° Biennale di Venezia di Architettura, Common Ground, Padiglione Italiano, Venezia, 2012
 Medaglia D'Oro all'Architettura Italiana, Triennale di Milano, Milano, 2012
 Workshop Circus Maximus, Roma 3.0, Rome, 2012
 Right to Energy, MAXXI, Roma, 2013
 Cellulae, Salone del Mobile, Milano, 2013
 Piccole Utopie, Tongji University, Shanghai, 2013
 The Energy of the Road, New urban scenarios in the post-oil era, MAXXI, Roma, 2013
 Grattanuvole, Torrecomune, Fondazione Catella, Milano, 2014 
 Atelier Castello, Un Bene Comune, La Triennale di Milano, Milano, 2014
 Africa Big Change Big Change, La Triennale Milano, Milano, 2014
 Grafting, XIV Biennale di Venezia di Architettura, Padiglione Italiano, Venezia, 2014
 Emerging Architects, Buro Happold, London, 2014
 Piccole Utopie, Italian Cultural Institute, Athens, 2014
 Small Utopias, University of Johannesburg, Johannesbourg, 2014
 Italy Now, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, 2014 
 Life Stripe, Spread, Milano, 2014
 Medaglia D’Oro all’Architettura Italiana, La Triennale di Milano, Milano, 2015
 NIB Master Lab, Salerno, 2015
 Concorso Terrazza Triennale, Palazzo dell’Arte, Milano, 2015
 Parco Centrale di Prato, Palazzo Pretorio, Prato, 2016
 Collezione Permanente, MAXXI Architettura, Roma, 2016
 Metropolis, Orpheum Theatre, Malta, 2016
 Visioni per Genova, Palazzo Ducale, Genova, 2016
 LabQ. Laboratorio per la Qualità Urbana, Pisa, 2016
 Archidiversity, Design for All, Milano, 2016
 Ebace, Geneve, 2016
 Interiors. Le stanze del quotidiano, MAXXI, Roma, 2016
 Blueprint Competition, Palazzo Rosso, Genova, 2016
 Archweek, Triennale di Milano, Milano, 2016
 Ebace, Geneve, 2017
 Interiors. Le stanze del quotidiano, MAXXI, Roma, 2017
 Blueprint Competition, Palazzo Rosso, Genova, 2017
 Archweek, Triennale di Milano, Milano, 2017
 Locus Amoenus Euroflora, Genova, 2018

External links

References 

Architecture firms of Italy
Companies based in Genoa
Design companies established in 2000
2000 establishments in Italy