At Florence, Italy’s Aeroporto Amerigo Vespucci, the new international airport terminal will feature a fully operating vineyard on the facility’s rooftop. Designed by Rafael Viñoly Architects, the terminal is expected to see over 5.9 million passengers annually. Renderings for the project have recently been released.
The 538,195-sf terminal project will involve both lengthening the existing runway and reorienting it 90 degrees away from the nearby hills, which have limited the operations of many modern planes.
The airport design aims to create a sense of place and improve the passenger experience. In the skylit terminal, arrivals and departures will face each other across a large, central public space, the Piazza. This organization will help streamline circulation into and out of the terminal.
In addition, the terminal will provide access to mass transit, parking, and retail, which will serve both travelers and the local community. The terminal will be connected to the city and the wider region by multimodal transport options, including a new light rail system.
A distinctive feature of the project is a 19-acre vineyard rising above the terminal. This will include 38 active vineyard rows on the building’s sloping roof—contributing to LEED Platinum sustainability rating and representing Italy’s winemaking tradition. A leading winegrower from the region will cultivate the vineyards, and the wine will be crafted and aged in special cellars located beneath the terminal’s roof.
The airport terminal will be completed in two phases: Phase one is expected to be finished in 2026, phase two in 2035.
On the Building Team:
Owner: Toscana Aeroporti SpA
Design architect and architect of record: Rafael Viñoly Architects
MEP engineer: Tekne SpA
Structural engineer: Eckersley O’Callaghan (EOC)
General contractor: Toscana Aeroporti Construction (TAC)
Related Stories
Airports | May 27, 2021
Grimshaw wins competition to design Shenzhen Airport East Integrated Transport Hub
The competition sought to find a design that created an integrated intermodal transport hub that could act as a new urban gateway.
Digital Twin | May 24, 2021
Digital twin’s value propositions for the built environment, explained
Ernst & Young’s white paper makes its cases for the technology’s myriad benefits.
Multifamily Housing | Mar 28, 2021
Smart home technology 101 for multifamily housing communities
Bulk-services Wi-Fi leads to better connectivity, products, and services to help multifamily developers create greater value for residents–and their own bottom line.
Market Data | Feb 24, 2021
2021 won’t be a growth year for construction spending, says latest JLL forecast
Predicts second-half improvement toward normalization next year.
Airports | Jan 26, 2021
Security concerns will drive demand for airport technology over the next five years
A new report explores where and what spending for “smart” airports is likely to focus on.
Giants 400 | Dec 16, 2020
Download a PDF of all 2020 Giants 400 Rankings
This 70-page PDF features AEC firm rankings across 51 building sectors, disciplines, and specialty services.
Giants 400 | Dec 2, 2020
2020 Airport Sector Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. airport facilities sector
AECOM, Hensel Phelps, and PGAL top BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest airport sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2020 Giants 400 Report.
Airports | Nov 20, 2020
Populous survey shows travelers are ready to return to the airport, with proper protection
Survey data points to achievable solutions for airports around the globe.
AEC Tech | Nov 12, 2020
The Weekly show: Nvidia's Omniverse, AI for construction scheduling, COVID-19 signage
BD+C editors speak with experts from ALICE Technologies, Build Group, Hastings Architecture, Nvidia, and Woods Bagot on the November 12 episode of "The Weekly." The episode is available for viewing on demand.
Airports | Oct 6, 2020
Airport of the Future global student design competition 2020 winners announced
Winning projects reimagine airport mobility in the year 2100 for one of the 20 busiest airports in the world.