Florence Airport (FLR), formally generally known as Amerigo Vespucci Airport, is present process a terminal modernization challenge. Rafael Viñoly Architects, the agency liable for the transformation, just lately revealed extra particulars in regards to the renovation. The small tourist-heavy airport will assemble a 38-row, 19-acre winery on the roof of the brand new terminal constructing. The airport has not witnessed a serious renovation since 1999. Along with the winery, insulated skylights inside every row will present the terminal constructing’s inside with ample pure mild.

Architects and planners hope to make use of the winery as a vacationer attraction, a mirrored image of the native economic system, and a function that may assist the airport mix into the encompassing panorama. The grapes harvested from the winery shall be aged beneath the terminal constructing for wine consumption. When seen from Brunelleschi’s Duomo, the airport terminal constructing shall be fully hidden.

As well as, the airport goals to spice up general capability to rival Pisa Airport (PSA) because the busiest within the Tuscany area. Along with the brand new terminal, the airport is including a lightweight rail connection to town correct and increasing the runway. 

Rafael Viñoly mentioned the next in regards to the challenge earlier than his 2023 demise:

“Florence is a spot the place issues change into everlasting landmarks as a result of they’ve a basic sense of inside logic and high quality. As a result of the airport, which is the door to town and its tradition, is so extraordinarily near town middle, this should be an urbanistic challenge, not an remoted design train that’s divorced from the whole lot however the technical calls for of aviation and the competitors for passengers.” 

The brand new design emphasizes city design rules and integration into the pure panorama as core tenets. The agency additionally explains the significance of place-making on the new terminal, saying the next:

“Arrivals and Departures shall be dealing with one another throughout a big public area – a “Piazza” on the middle of the brand new terminal. The scheme will set up all of the circulation into and out of the terminal and the entry to mild rail, parking, and retail.”

The brand new terminal is anticipated to deal with shut to six million passengers yearly. The development will occur over two phases, with section one scheduled for completion in 2026 and section 2 in 2035.