BARDI

Type One phase private competition organized by Fondazione Bardi (1st prize)

Time lapse July 2004

Numbers Estimated budget: 2,8 mln € // Total area: 5.600 m2

Team Alessandro Scarnato (in charge) // Valeria Ioele (interiors) // Neri Torrigiani (design management) // Massimo Carotti (financial feasibility) // Karolina Ossowska (interiors)

The Palazzo Capponi is a Renaissance building located in the historical heart of Florence. After being abandoned for almost 30 years the current owner (a private Foundation) promoted a design competition in order to find ideas for a deep physical transformation and for a new use. We proposed to create an International Artisans’ school provided with apartments for rent on the upper floor.

The ground floor has exhibition areas and a retail to sell the objects produced in the school. On second floor, a Cultural Center for international schools located in Florence, is directly connected to a bar with view in the terrace. The building is transformed throughout the complete substitution of the original staircase, which is in very bad conditions and not suitable for a modern and efficient use. A new staircase in glass and concrete is inserted in such a way to respect the original features of the building, but with contemporary technologies and language.