Florence is committed to promoting tourism through the wine sector. The capital of Tuscany, with renowned wine regions such as Carmignano, Chanti and Brunello di Montalcino, has announced that it will build a new international terminal at Amerigo Vespucci airport, which will feature a 7.68 hectare vineyard on the roof.
The project, designed by the company Rafael Viñoly Architects, is part of a restructuring of the Florence airport with the aim of increasing the flow of tourists and highlighting the wine production known throughout the world. It is expected that the new 50,000 m² terminal will be able to accommodate more than 5.9 million international passengers per year.
The vineyard will have 38 rows of vines and will be slightly inclined, with the aim of evoking the mountains of this area located in central Italy. Each vine will measure almost three meters wide and between them there will be insulated skylights to allow natural light to enter the interior of the building.
The promoters of the project have explained that the grapes will be harvested, produced and aged in wineries located beneath the airport. At the moment, it is unknown which winery will be in charge of managing these tasks, as part of the renovation plan that is expected to be completed in 2035.
The vine-covered roof will not only serve as a new wine production site, but will also fulfill an aesthetic and urban function. The future vineyard will camouflage the airport structure, visible from iconic sites in the region, such as Brunelleschi’s Duomo or the Florence Cathedral.
However, this project has generated some debate and criticism, especially regarding environmental issues. Some critics of the sector, such as Rowan Moore, have questioned the viability of reconciling airport services and wine production, as well as the certainty that grapes are not contaminated by aircraft emissions, despite calculations and studies of the architectural company.
