OBR Open Building Research

OBR Open Building Research was established by Paolo Brescia and Tommaso Principi in 2000 to investigate new ways of contemporary living, creating a design network between Milan and London, further extended to New York and Mumbai.

The Team of OBR develops its experimental line through the participation in international projects relating to public-private social programs. Their research investigates urban design promoting- through architecture- the sense of community and the individual identities.

The founding partners of OBR, Paolo and Tommaso together worked with Renzo Piano. They combine their professional experience with the academic world as guest lecturers at universities in Europe and Asia, such as Accademia di Architettura di Mendrisio, Kent State University, Helsinki Aalto University, University of Oulu, Academy of Architecture of Mumbai, College of Architecture of Pune, Mimar Sinan Fine Art University of Istanbul, Hacettepe University in Ankara and Politecnico di Milano. Paolo is professor of architectural design at the University of Genoa.

OBR’s projects have been featured in international exhibitions, including at the X Biennale di Architettura, Venice 2006; Architecture: Where to, London 2007; V Bienal de Arquitetura, Brasilia 2007; XI Bienal Internacional de Arquitectura, Buenos Aires 2007; AR Award Exhibition, Berlin 2008; China International Architectural Expo, Beijing 2009; International Expo, Shangai 2010; UIA 24th World Congress of Architecture, Tokyo 2011; International Green Building Summit, Istanbul 2012; Energy at MAXXI, Rome 2013; Italy Now, Bogotá 2014; Small Utopias, Johannesburg 2014 and the XIV Biennale di Architettura, Venice 2014.

OBR has been awarded with the AR Awards honourable mention for Emerging Architecture at the RIBA Royal Institute of British Architects in London, 2007; Plusform award for Best architecture realised by young architect under 40, 2008; Urbanpromo by INU Istituto Nazionale Urbanistica, 2008; Gold Medal finalist for Italian Architecture at Triennale di Milano, 2009; Europe 40 Under 40 in Madrid, 2010; In/Arch and Ance premium in Rome for the best completed project in Italy designed by young architect, 2011; Leaf Award overall winner in London, 2011; WAN Award Residential in London, 2011; Green Good Design Award in Chicago, 2012; Ad’A Award for Italian Architecture, 2013; Building Healthcare Award for Best International Design in London, 2014, and Inarch International Award for Architecture and Design 2015.

Biography

Paolo Brescia, Partner

Born in 1970, he graduates in architecture from the Politecnico di Milano in 1996 with Prof. Pierluigi Nicolin, after academic fellowship at Architectural Association in London.

He works with Renzo Piano from 1998 to 2000.

In 2000 he establishes OBR Open Building Research with Tommaso Principi from the idea of researching new ways of living, working within the confluence of architecture, landscape and environment.

He is professor in charge at Politecnico di Milano in 2005 and at Università di Genova in 2008.

He lectures widely including at Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Luiss of Rome, University of Trieste, Kent State University, Architecture Academy of Mendrisio, Aalto University in Helsinki, Academy of Architecture of Mumbai and University of Mimar Sinan Guzel Sanatlar.

He is invited in 2006 to participate at the 10th Biennale di Venezia and in 2007 at the V Bienal de Arquitetura de Brasília and at the XI Bienal Internacional de Arquitectura de Buenos Aires.

In 2007 he is awarded by the RIBA Royal Institute of British Architects of London with the honorable mention “AR Awards for Emerging Architecture” and he is presented at the London exhibition “Architecture: Where to”.

In 2008 he wins the “Plusform” award for the best architecture realized by young architect under 40, the “Urbanpromo” prize by INU Istituto Nazionale Urbanistica at the Biennale di Venezia and he is invited at the AR Award Exhibition in Berlin, Budapest and Seul.

In 2009 he is honourable mention finalist for the Gold Medal for Italian Architecture by Triennale di Milano and invited to take part at the China International Architectural Expo in Beijing.

In 2010 his projects are showed at the “Better City, Better Life” exhibition at the Shanghai International Expo and awarded with the Europe 40 Under 40 prize in Madrid.

In 2011 he receives in Rome the In/Arch and Ance premium for the best realized project designed by young architect and he is awarded in London with the overall Leaf Award.

In 2012 he wins the WAN Awards Residential in London.

Tommaso Principi, Partner

Born in 1970, he studies engineering at Università degli Studi di Bologna and architecture at Università degli Studi di Genova where he graduated in 1999 with Prof. Enrico D. Bona.

After the diploma in Sistemi Video at Università degli Studi di Genova, he makes several feature films between 1995 and 1998.

He works with Renzo Piano from 1997 to 1999.

In 2000 he establishes OBR Open Building Research with Paolo Brescia from the idea of researching new ways of living, working within the confluence of architecture, landscape and environment.

In 2007 he coordinates the International Workshop ICAMP for the Sustainable Developmement of Stretto di Messina, Italy.

He is professor in charge at Università di Genova in 2008.

He lectures widely including at Kent State University, Politecnico of Milan, Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, University of Messina.

He is invited in 2006 to participate at the 10th Biennale di Venezia and in 2007 at the V Bienal de Arquitetura de Brasília and at the XI Bienal Internacional de Arquitectura de Buenos Aires.

In 2007 he is awarded by the RIBA Royal Institute of British Architects of London with the honorable mention “AR Awards for Emerging Architecture” and he is presented at the London exhibition “Architecture: Where to”.

In 2008 he wins the “Plusform” award for the best architecture realized by young architect under 40, the “Urbanpromo” prize by INU Istituto Nazionale Urbanistica at the Biennale di Venezia and he is invited at the AR Award Exhibition in Berlin, Budapest and Seul.

In 2009 he is honourable mention finalist for the Gold Medal for Italian Architecture by Triennale di Milano and invited to take part at the China International Architectural Expo in Beijing.

In 2010 his projects are showed at the “Better City, Better Life” exhibition at the Shanghai International Expo and awarded with the Europe 40 Under 40 prize in Madrid.

In 2011 he receives in Rome the In/Arch and Ance premium for the best realized project designed by young architect and he is awarded in London with the overall Leaf Award.

In 2012 he wins the WAN Awards Residential in London.

2014

Terrazza Triennale, Milan (1st prize)

Michelin HQ and Research Labs, Delhi (1st prize)

Atelier Castello, Milan (2nd prize)

Bayt Al Fann Jameel Arts, Jeddah (selected)

2013

Santa Margherita Ligure Waterfront (1st prize)

Jameel Arts Centre, Dubai (2nd prize)

2012

Via XX Settembre, Genova (1st prize)

City Waterfront, Cesme (1st prize)

Floriopoli Thematic Park, Palermo (2nd prize)

2011

Museum of History and Museum of Science, Dalian (2nd prize)

Rio 2016 Olympic Park Master plan, Rio de Janeiro

2010

Fiera di Messina (1st prize)

University centre and Accomodation, Shantou (1st prize)

Fengqing Square, Zhengzhou (1st prize)

2009

Nuovo Ospedale Galliera, Genova (1st prize)

Masterplan Polo di Funo, Bologna (1st prize)

Venaria Urban Centre (2nd prize)

People Mover (2nd prize)

Torrenova Città Parco, Roma (short listed)

Province Offices, Bergamo (short listed)

Social Housing, Via Cenni Milano (special mention)

2008

River Douglas Bridge, Lancashire UK

Wejchert Golf Club (2nd prize)

2007

Campus Divino Amore, Roma (1st prize)

Museo Diocesano, Milano (3rd prize)

Waterfront Reggio Calabria (3rd prize)

2006

Ponte Polcevera, Genova (1st prize)

Aeroporto di Reggio Calabria (1st prize)

Ex Cinema Roma, Parma (1st prize)

Nuovo Ospedale San Marco, Catania (2nd prize)

Museo di Arte Nuragica e Contemporanea, Cagliari (short listed)

Fiera Riva del Garda (short listed)

Residenze Varesine, Milano (short listed)

2005

Residenze Milanofiori, Assago, Milano (1st prize)

Waterfront Rapallo (short listed)

2004

Villa Reale di Monza (2nd prize)

2003

Museo di Pitagora, Crotone (1st prize)

Galleria Sabauda nel Palazzo Reale di Torino (1st prize)

Nam June Paik Museum, Kionggy, South Korea

2001

EVG Polo Intermodale, Trieste (1st prize)

Eco-connections, Reggio Emilia (2nd prize)

Tomihiro Museum, Azuma, Japan (selected).

2015

iOArch, Complesso a Jaipur, Tra globale e locale

Atrium, Nová dimenzia Triennale, Slovakia

Elle.it, Osteria con vista sulla Terrazza della Triennale di Milano

Arketipo, Terrazza Triennale: restauro e apertura del nuovo ristorante di OBR

Edilizia e Territorio, Il Sole 24 Ore, Inaugura la Terrazza Triennale firmata OBR

Artribune, OBR e il nuovo ristorante sulla terrazza della Triennale di Milano

Domus, Una serra tra parco e città

GrazieCasa.it, I nuovi ristoranti con terrazza a Milano

Ait online, Restaurant Terrazza Triennale in Mailand von OBR

Edilportale, La Terrazza Triennale di OBR

Promozione Acciaio, Terrazza Triennale di Milano

Modern Property Manager, Terrazza餐厅), Beijing

Vivienda y Decoracion n.984, Escenografía transparente, Santiago

Area n°140, June 2015, Terrazza Triennale Restaurant / OBR

Giardino Italiano n° 2, June 2015, Uno sguardo su Milano

Perspective n° 7, July 2015, A glasshouse suspended between park and city, Hong Kong

Green Buildings n° 2, August 2015, Glasshouse restaurant: between the city and the park, Moscow

Suite n° 175, July/August 2015, Terrazza Triennale, Milano

Deco n° 62, September/December 2015, Magie étoilée d’une glasshouse, Beirut

Entremuros n° 229, September 2015, Adaptación Trasparente, Ciudad de México

A magazine Aïshti n° 79, August/September 2015, Just in Milan, Terrazza Triennale, Beirut

Architectural Material & Detail Structure, Liaoning Science & Technology Publishing House, China

Exé Architecture Détail Technique n° 18, Logement Milanofiori, Àvivre Éditions, Paris

Ark Arkkitehti Finnish Architectural Review n° 5, Lastensairaala OBR, Suomen Arkkitehttiilitto, Helsinki

A+D+M n° 49, Positive interaction, Publicomm, Savona

Corriere della Sera, 14 October 2014, Cultura, Big Change Big Chance, Milano

Identity Matters (a cura di Riccardo Salvi). Commons.

Architecture as evolutionary process, Franco Angeli Editore, Milano

Phaidon Atlas, OBR, London

2014

Atlas of World Landscape Architecture, Braun Publishing, Schweiz

Wallpaper n° 178, Pythagoras Museum by OBR is more than the sum of its parts, IPC Media Ltd, London

Africa Missione Cultura n° 1, Benvenuti nel futuro: aprono in Africa i cantieri delle smart cities, Treviglio

Africa Big Change Chance, Editrice Compositori, Milano

Exé Architecture Détail Technique n° 18, Logement Milanofiori, Àvivre Éditions, Paris

Ark Arkkitehti Finnish Architectural Review n° 5, Lastensairaala OBR, Suomen Arkkitehttiilitto, Helsinki

A+D+M, n° 49, Positive interaction, Publicomm, Savona

Corriere della Sera, 14 October 2014, Cultura, Big Change Big Chance

Identity Matters (a cura di Riccardo Salvi). Commons.

Architecture as evolutionary process Paolo Brescia, Tommaso Principi. Franco Angeli Editore

Phaidon Atlas, London

Atlas of World Landscape Architecture, Braun Publishing, Switzerland

Wallpaper n° 178, Architecture, Pythagoras Museum by OBR, IPC Media Ltd, London

Africa, Benvenuti nel futuro: aprono in Africa i cantieri delle smart cities

Africa Big Change Chance, Editrice Compositori, 2014

2013

Storia dell’Architettura Italiana, M. Biraghi e S. Micheli, Einaudi Editore, Torino

Piccole Uup[ie/Small Utopias, Italian architecture of the third millennium, Quodlibet

Collective Housing, Sandu Cultural Media, Guangzhou, China

Magazine of American Institute of Architects, October 2013, With Flying Colors, Washington

L. Prestinenza Puglisi, ItaliArchitettura 7, September 2013, Residenze Milanofiori, UTET, Turin

d+a Magazines, August 2013, Coloured with light, Singapore

World Health Design, July 2013, Design to Inspire, Billericay UK

Global Construction, Ghana tech city plans, The Chartered Institute of Building, Ascot

Livegreen, Sustainable multi award winning architecture in Milan, Media LLC, Ohio

Area n° 128, March 2013, Cellulae, F. Motta Editore, Milan

AJ Architects, 25th June 2013, OBR unrwraps Clapham extension, EMAP, London

Pippo Ciorra, Energy, Fondazione MAXXI, Mondadori Electa, Milan

L’Unità, 20th April 2013, Architetture energetiche: una mostra in movimento al MAXXI

Elle Décor n°4, April 2013, Oro nero, Hearst Magazines, Milan

Quotidiano Energia, Energy sbarca al MAXXI, Gruppo Italia Energia, Rome

Il Manifesto, 10th April 2013, Cultura, La cellula che crea spazio

La Repubblica, 9th April 2013, Ghana, Sei torri genovesi cambiano il volto dell’Africa

Il Corriere della Sera, 9th April 2013, Una poetica oltre la lampada

Il Corriere della Sera, 4th April 2013, Come eravamo idrocarburi

Il Manifesto, 29th March 2013, Le Architetture del petrolio

La Repubblica, 29th March 2013, Dal petrolio al post-petrolio, L’Espresso

DNews Roma, La mostra Energy, MAG Editoriale, Milan

Il Messaggero, 21st March 2013, La sfida di Energy: come fare città più belle

Area n° 127, March 2013, OBR, Pitagora Museum, F. Motta Ed, Milan

CNN, 20th March 2013, Africa’s tallest building’ set for tech city

BBC, HOPE City, London

La Repubblica, 16th March 2013, Energy.

La Repubblica, 14th March 2013, Energia in forma

Daily Graphic, 5th March 2013, HOPE City takes off, Accra

2012

Lotus International, n° 148, New Urban Housing II, OBR, Milanofiori, Editoriale Lotus, Milan

Casabella n° 809, OBR Brescia e Principi, Museo Pitagora, Arnoldo Mondadori Editore, Verona

Common Ground, Italy- Le quattro stagioni, Marsilio Editori, Venice

Llop Torné, Working with the territory, Actar, Barcelona, Basel, New York

Lowrence Speck, Top International Residential Building, Design Vision Publishing, Hong Kong

Latest Apartment Building, Dalian University of Technology Press, Shenzhen

Ecologik n° 24, Leading Architectural Forum (LEAF), Architecture à vivre, Paris

Architettura & Design Lombardia, OBR, Residenze Milanofiori, Radl Communication, Milan

Anna Faresin, Architettura in calcestruzzo, Utet, Turin

Mimarlik, OBR, Boyut Yayin Grubu, Istanbul

Casa 24, Maxi Poli Ospedalieri in cantiere, Il Sole 24 Ore, Milan

2011

Blueprint, LEAF Awards 2011, December, World Market Intelligence, London

A. Trivelli, Edilizia residenziale innovativa, Maggioli Ed., San Marino

Bo Yuan International Book Publishing Group, ShenZhen

Arketipo, June 2011, OBR, Milanofiori Nord Residence, Il Sole 24 Ore, Milan

AA.VV., Young Italian Blood 10, Annual dei talenti italiani, FM editore

Pitagora Museum, Architecture Lab, Beirut

OBR, Der Standard, Springer, Wien

2010

L. Paschini, Progetti di giovani architetti italiani, Utet Scienze Tecniche, Turin

Latitudine 45°40’80’’ longitudine 9°15’20’’ Milanofiori Nord, S. Galateo e L. Molinari, MB, Milan

Kent State University, OBR, Ri-naturalizzazione della città al mare, Alinea Ed., Filorence

Costruire, 100% under 40, Residenze Milanofiori Nord, Abitare Segesta S.p.A.

Il Giornale dell’Architettura, Genova, piastra verde per il nuovo Galliera

AA.VV., Young Blood 09, Medaglia d’Oro dell’Architettura Italiana, FM editore, Rome

Roma, Meno è Più, Una nuova sequenza di trasformazioni urbane, LISt Barcellona

Progettare, Anno IX, n° 3, Speciale Social Housing: OBR Paolo Brescia e Tommaso Principi, Tecniche Nuove, Milan

Quaderni di GiArch, Giovani Architetti Italiani, OBR Open Building Research, UTET

Architecture X, Lido di Genova, Rhian, Shanghai

2009

Indian Architect & Builder, IA&B

Lifestyle, anno III n° 8, Tra ragione ed emozione, editore Savir

Guglielmo Pelliccioli, Real Estate, 30 talenti per il futuro, Daily Real Esate S.r.l., Milan

Medaglia d’Oro all’Architettura Italiana, La Triennale di Milano, Electa, Milan

Casamica, January/February 2009, Gli Interni Esterni, RCS periodici, Milan

2008

Casabella, n° 770, Premio Urbanistica 2008, Arnoldo Mondadori Editore, Milan

Il Mondo, Il Corriere della Sera, 24th October 2008, Premio Delmonte

AA.VV., Young Italian Blood, Annual dei talenti italiani premiati nel mondo, Iron Ed.

Photon n° 11, July 2008, Photon Magazine, Tokyo, Japan

Progettare n° 14, Città sostenibile, Ecomondo, Arstudio Edizioni, San Marino

Il Giornale dell'Architettura, n° 64, Il Science Centre di OBR, Allemandi, Turin

Dwell Magazine, Dwell Online editor, New York, NY

1000 x Landscape Architecture, Verlagshaus Braun, Berlin

2007

The Architectural Review, n° 1330, Emerging Architecture, OBR, London

Casabella Japan n° 759, Arnoldo Mondadori Editore, Architects Studio, Japan

Domus n° 900, Fra terra e cielo, Editoriale Domus, Milan

Progettare n° 009, Progettare una città sostenibile, Arstudio Edizioni, San Marino

Domus n° 899, Sardegna: i paesaggi del futuro, Editoriale Domus, Milan

Ulisse n° 269, Ecologie Contemporanee

Wettbewerbe aktuell n° 2/2007, Messe und Kongresszentrum Riva del Garda, Freiburg

1000 x European Architecture, Verlagshaus Braun, Berlin

Wettbewerbe aktuell n° 1/2007, Museum fur mediterrane nuragische und zeitgenossische Kunst, Stuttgart

2006

Richard Burdett, Città Architettura e Società, La Biennale di Venezia, Marsilio, Venice

Franco Purini, La città nuova italia-y-26, Padiglione Italiano, Ed. Compositori, Bologna

Giovani Architetti Italiani, Young Italian Architects under 40, Progetto Contemporaneo

La Repubblica delle Donne, n° 510, Musei, il verde si addice a Pitagora

Ulisse Alitalia n° 264, Un itinerario tra paesaggio e architettura

D’Architettura n° 29, Laboratorio Italia 2006 Roma, Polo Intermodale FVG, Milan

Repertorio Variabile, nella formazione di una nuova generazione di architetti, Polo Intermodale FVG, Museo di Pitagora a Crotone, Libria Editore

2005

Costruire n° 269, Architetti Under Quaranta, Giardini e Museo di Pitagora, Ed. Abitare Segesta, Milan

Il Giornale dell’Architettura, n° 32, Cabassi sceglie OBR per Milanofiori, U. Allemandi

A10 n°3, Media BV, Amsterdam

Jonathan Bell, Penthouse Living, Grassi Penthouse, John Wiley & Sons, Brisbane

Label, n° 17, Architecture: the bright side of the moon, Turin

2004

Wallpaper, n° 70, Architects Directory. The 25 most intriguing architects, IPC Ltd, London

Area n° 72, Giardino di Pitagora, F. Motta Editore, Milan

2003

D’Architettura, n° 18, F. Motta Editore, Milan

Label n° 17, Architecture: the bright side of the moon, Turin

2002

Luigi Prestinenza Puglisi, Tre parole per il prossimo futuro, Edizioni Meltemi, Rome

Wallpaper n° 53, Architects to watch, IPC Media Ltd, London.

2015

Inarch 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

2012

Gold Medal for Italian Architecture, Finalist, La Triennale di Milano

2012

Green Good Design, Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design, Chicago

2011

WAN Awards Residential, London

2011

Overall Leaf Awards 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

European 40 Under 40 Award, Madrid

2009

Gold Medal for Italian Architecture, Honourable Mention, La Triennale di Milano

2008

Urbanpromo Award, INU Istituto Nazionale Urbanistica, La Biennale di Venezia

2008

Plusform Award, Best realized architecture under 40

2007

AR Award for Emerging Architecture, RIBA Royal Institute of British Architects, London

2015

LabQ. Laboratorio per la Qualità Urbana, Pisa

2014

Grattanuvole, Latorrecomune, Fondazione Catella, Milan

Atelier Castello, Un bene Comune, Triennale di Milano

AFRICA Big Change Big Change, Triennale di Milano

OBR, Emerging Architects, Buro Happold, London

14° Mostra Internazionale di Architettura, Innesti / Grafting, Padiglione Italia, Venice Biennale

Small Utopias, Italian Cultural Institute, Athens

Small Utopias, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg

Italy Now, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá

Archmarathon Awards, Workspaces: Children’s Hospital

2013

Piccole Utopie, Tongji University, Shanghai

The Energy of the Road, New urban scenarios in the post-oil era, MAXXI, Rome

Cellulae, Salone del Mobile, Milan

Right to Energy, MAXXI, Rome

2012

XIII Biennale di Venezia di Architettura, Common Ground, Venice

Medaglia D’Oro all’Architettura Italiana, Triennale di Milano

2011

Italy Now, UIA 2011 24th World Congress of Architecture, Tokyo

ASJ TV, New Wave in Architecture, OBR Open Building Research, Tokyo

In/Arch Ance, Rome

Young Blood, Annual dei talenti italiani, Rome

Rassegna Italiana, Università di Roma La Sapienza

Ordine degli Architetti di Bologna, Saie, Bologna

Rigenerazione Urbana, Catania

2010

Europe 40 Under 40 Exhibition, Madrid

Giovani Architetti Italiani, GiArch, Utet, Casa dell’Architettura, Rome

Better City, Better Life, World Trade Centre, Shanghai International Expo

Spot on Architecture, Milanofiori, University of Florence

Giovani Architetti, GiArch, Casa dell’Architettura, Rome

2009

China International Architectural Expo, Beijing

Medaglia D’Oro all’Architettura Italiana, Triennale di Milano

2008

AR Awards exhibition, Berlin

Arup World Architecture Festival, Barcellona

Collasso Energetico, Bioarchitettura e Biourbanistica, Teatro Cargo, Genoa

Rizoma, Biennale giovani architetti, Pontedera

AR Awards exhibition, Budapest

AR Awards exihibition, Seoul

2007

AR Awards for Emerging Architecture, RIBA, London

Architecture: Where to, Cross Borders, concepts of a unified Europe/world, London

Plusform, Architetture realizzate under 40

Città e territorio tra crescita e sostenibilità, Hanoi

XI Bienal Internacional de Arquitectura, Buenos Aires

2006

V Biennale di Architettura, Contemporary Ecologies, Brasilia

10° Biennale di Venezia di Architettura, Città. Architettura e società, Padiglione Italiano

Young Italian Architects under 40, Venice

2005

Archimedia, InArch, Culture contemporanee

Biennale del Paesaggio mediterraneo, Pescara

2004

NIB+ICAR travelling 2004, Roma, Glasgow, Belgrado, Helsinki

Architetture di qualità under 40, Ordine degli Architetti di Salerno

Graz Biennal on Media and Architecture, ArtImage, Graz

2003

Intimacy, iMage, Stazione Leopolda, a cura di Marco Brizzi, Florence

Beyond the media 03, Image, Ospedale degli Innocenti, Florence

2002

Intercittà, Reggio Emilia.

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