Paolo Piva began in 1968 his studies at the Architecture faculty at the University of Venice, dealing with research in the visual field and taking part in personal and collective exhibitions.

In 1970, he collaborated to the realization of the project for the "WIG 74" competition on behalf of the city of Vienna and in the competition for the monument of the Resistance in the town of Modena. He was invited to the Internazionalen Malerwochen in Retzhof-Graz (Austria).

In 1975, he collaborated with the History and Architecture Institute in Venice and with the l’Akademie für Angewandten Kunst in Vienna for the realization of a great exhibition regarding Vienna during the socialist period. In 1980, this research will lead to the Red Vienna exhibition demanded by the city of Rome, where he took care of the exhibition catalogue.

In 1980, he designed the Kuwait Embassy in Quatar and some architectural works in Italy.

In 1981, he projected the setting-up of some clothes shop chains.

In 1983, he is invited to a series of conferences at the P.D.C. in Los Angeles and he took care of the competition for renewal idea regarding the “Lingotto FIAT” in Turin.

In 1985, he planned the renewal of the main "C.Jourdan" seat in Paris.

In 1986, he planned the refurbishment of "Palazzo Remer" in Venice.

In 1987, he is nominated at the XIII Premio Compasso d’Oro award.

In 1988, he became associate professor at the all’Akademie für Angewandten Kunst of Vienna, where he became full professor in 1991.