A vineyard on the airport roof. The project for Florence's International Airport

An airport with a vineyard, and on the roof, no less. The new project for the redevelopment of Florence's Amerigo Vespucci International Airport is ready. It is designed by the renowned architecture studio Rafael Vinoly, choosing to emphasize the strong connection between the winemaking tradition and the land of Tuscany to bring a touch of originality to the project. Florence, therefore, could only evoke this combination and will do so by installing a vineyard with 38 productive rows, acting as a calling card for the nearly 6 million travelers who pass through each year.

It will be a productive vineyard

According to the recently presented project, the vineyard covers over 7 hectares (19 acres). However, it will not serve merely aesthetic or symbolic purposes because grape harvesting, winemaking, and wine production for aging in cellars under the airport roof are planned. Skilled hands from the Tuscan winemaking world will be entrusted with these tasks. The challenge of the project lies in studying the weight distribution of the vineyard, drainage, and wind load. From a productive perspective, factors related to the microclimate of a flat area like the airport need consideration. The vineyard area on the roof will be higher near the runways, gradually curving as it moves towards the outskirts of the airport.

A Renewed Airport

Florence's airport will be an entirely new facility, featuring a 90-degree rotation of the runway compared to the current layout, allowing for size adjustments according to modern aeronautical needs. A light rail system is also planned as a sustainable transport alternative. The arrival and departure areas will be located in a spacious public space, a square, marking the center of Amerigo Vespucci's new terminal. The project has two phases, as announced by the Vinoly studio: the first by 2026, and the second by 2035.