Renzo Piano recounts the history of Rome's Auditorium Parco della Musica

In a video produced for Fondazione Musica per Roma as part of the #AuditoriumLive program, architect and senator for life Renzo Piano narrates the story of the Auditorium Parco della Musica, which he designed between 1994 and 1995. He traces the project from its initial conception through the discovery of an ancient Roman villa on the site, to its eventual success, and contrasts this with the current emptiness caused by the coronavirus emergency. Piano reflects on the pain of seeing the auditorium deserted, stating, "We managed to build a place loved by everyone. And this makes the moment we are living even more painful, in which the Auditorium is uninhabited." He also thinks of other spaces he has created—museums, concert halls, libraries—all empty in recent weeks, noting that these buildings are meant to be lived in, as places where people celebrate the ritual of being together, understanding each other, sharing joys, and participating.