Editing Renzo Piano (section)

=== Old Port of Genoa (1985–2001) and Lingotto Factory in Turin (1983–2003) ===
In the mid-1980s Piano and his firm took on a wide variety of projects, using the most advanced technology available, but, in contrast to the Pompidou Center, as discreetly as possible. His portable pavilion for IBM (1983–1986) was an example; designed with [[Peter Rice (structural engineer)|Peter Rice]], of a lightweight portable tunnel for expositions. It composed of a series of pyramids of polycarbonate supported by a wooden frame, and could be transported in a truck. It was designed to integrate the scenery outside into displays in the interior. He designed two major reconstruction projects in northern Italy; the reanimation of the old port of his native city, [[Genoa]], and the conversion and modernization of the gigantic and historic [[Fiat]] factory in [[Turin]], Italy. For the Fiat [[Lingotto]] factory, he preserved the enormous main structure, including its famous oval test track for automobiles on the roof, but added new structures, including a concert hall beneath the building, a heliport, and a glass domed conference center on the roof. He continued his modifications and additions over two decades; without destroying the historic core of the building. The most recent was a museum for the art collection of the Fiat head [[Giovanni Agnelli]] in an elegant glass and steel box perched on the roof, as if it were about to take off; it was nicknamed the "Flying bank vault".{{Sfn|Jodidio|2016|page=31}}

Piano also carried out a large program for revitalization of the old port of Genoa to transform it from a rundown industrial area into a cultural center and tourist attraction. He prolonged streets to give access to the port, transformed old port buildings into cultural and commercial buildings, added a library, an [[Aquarium of Genoa|aquarium]] and an auditorium, a botanical garden in glass dome and a giant multi-armed crane, modeled after the old cranes of the port, which hoists visitors high in the air for a view of the port.{{Sfn|Jodidio|2016|page=29}}

In addition, he designed the new headquarters of his firm, the Renzo Piano Building Workshop (1989–1991), on a series of stepped terraces hanging over the Mediterranean to the west of the city. The building is accessed by an eight-passenger funicular railway car which shuttles up and down the hillside.