UNSW student soaks up internship in Italy with architect Renzo Piano

Dan Godwin is spending 6 months working under the tutelage of architect Renzo Piano at his renowned architectural firm in Italy.

Master of Architecture student Dan Godwin is currently a month into a 6-month experience as a paid intern with Pritzker Prize winning architect Renzo Piano in Genoa, Italy.

He is working at the Renzo Piano Building Workshop (RPBW) – a world-renowned firm that has created landmark buildings such as The Shard skyscraper in London and the new Whitney Museum in New York.

The guiding principle of the internship is learning by doing, helping emerging architects bridge the gap between theory and practice. And Godwin will have the opportunity to participate in every phase of architectural projects, from design and experimentation to site visits.

It was second time lucky for Godwin. “Piano has always been a favourite of mine,” he says. “The opportunity to work in his office was what inspired me to apply. I wasn’t successful on my first attempt, but the feedback I received was incredibly kind and motivating – so I applied again.”

He is looking forward to soaking up both the internship and Italy itself.

“I’ve never been to a part of the world where buildings that have stood for thousands of years still shape the present,” he says. “And I’m also eager to learn how the Building Workshop has continuously innovated and delivered quality architecture so consistently over the past 40 years.”

Already Godwin is seeing how the RPBW team constantly adapts throughout the design process.

“The biggest realisation so far is that every design is essentially one big experiment, made up of countless smaller ones. It’s been eye-opening to see how the team moves fluidly between plan, section, model, or whatever tool best advances the design – constantly zooming in and out, testing from every angle,” he says.

The internship is a perfect fit for Godwin, who says he has been obsessed with making things for as long as he can remember.

“Backyard huts, endless hours with Lego or whatever else I could get my hands on,” he says.

Studying architecture seemed a natural progression in some ways.

“There wasn’t really an ‘aha’ moment, just an innate love for creating buildings that, luckily, turned out to have a degree at university! Since then, that passion has only grown stronger,” he says.

Godwin started at UNSW through the preparation program as he didn’t sit the HSC.

“I’m forever grateful for the pathway in,” he says. “Since then, I’ve tried to make the most of the uni experience, and while I could list off my academic successes, the true highlights have been the friends I’ve made, the people I’ve met, and everything I’ve learned along the way.”

Professor Philip Oldfield, Head of School at UNSW’s School of Built Environment, says the Renzo Piano internship, and other international opportunities are an important part of the Masters in Architecture.

“We know many of our UNSW Architecture graduates go on to work in cities around the world, so we have a commitment to ensuring our students have opportunities to study and work internationally as part of their degrees,” he says.

“I’m delighted Dan is the fourth Master of Architecture student from UNSW to be offered an internship at Renzo Piano Building Workshop in Genoa. This is a wonderful opportunity for him to learn from one of the very best architects, in an inspiring and innovative setting. I’m sure this will have a huge impact on his architectural horizons,” says Prof. Oldfield.

Godwin agrees. And though it’s only early days in the internship, he’s already starting to think that Renzo’s greatest strength isn’t just design – it’s perspective.

“He has an incredible ability to find the right story to tell, which is what makes his architecture so successful. He always sees beyond the client, the budget, and the building itself, asking: how can this building truly mean something to its environment?

“I think this is why his work has remained relevant for more than four decades - it’s a constant process of ensuring that a building holds meaning for someone, somewhere, without getting steered away by other pressures.”

Godwin is looking forward to learning all he can over the next few months and taking those experiences into his master’s degree and role at Bijl Architecture.

“Wherever I end up, I hope I’m putting into practice what I’ve learned about creating buildings that mean something. If something I had a hand in designing improves just one person’s day—even in the smallest way—that’s success to me,” he says.

UNSW Sydney is the only Australian university to be offered a Renzo Piano Foundation internship, which covers flights, accommodation, living expenses and salary. Renzo Piano established the non-profit foundation to promote architecture through study and research.

The Internship program has been in operation since 2017 and is awarded to a UNSW Architecture student in recognition of their incredible talent, efforts, and output in their architectural studies.