taking his clue from the disposition of local villages,Piano conveived this center,set on narrow peninsula, as a series of wooden pavillions.On the side facing a lagoon with strong dominant winds,the architect erected a series of curving wooden-walled strucures ranging from nine to 28 meterrs in height. while a double-skinned design make these facades sufficiently resistant even during tropical stroms,they are also designed to admit natural light and breeze while encouraging the expulsion of hotter air through a natural "chimney" effect. There are three functional "villages" in the complex. The frist contains the public areas and exhibition spaces,the second the auditorium, mediatheque, and the third the administrative and teaching areas. Despite his logical emphasis on local culture, Renzo Piano
here blends the use of wood and natural ventilation with glass and aluminum elements. A visit to the Center is conceived as a stroll through the carefully preserved tropical environment. One quality that sets Renzo Piano apart from other talented architects is hit ability to adapt his designs to their locations while maintaining aconstant interest in materials and appropriate technology. Even when using metaphors, Piano varies his approach. Where the roof of Kansai Airport can be said to resemble a wing, the pavilions of the Jean-Marie Tjibaou Center are as much like sails as they are reminiscent of local hut design. His subtle references are never so literal as to become obvious. A master of modern, abstract architecture, he nonetheless succeeds in adapting his architecture to the most varied sites and functions.