Tobacco manifacturing plant

Built between 1933 and 1940 by Pier Luigi Nervi's construction company, the Manifattura Tabacchi (Tobacco Manufacturing Plant) is one of the monuments of Italian Rationalism, a movement characterized by sober and linear forms - from load-bearing structures in reinforced concrete, iron and glass - which support the their functional vocation. The industrial complex consists of 16 buildings spread over 100,000 m2 which for the most part will be preserved and restored, as they are listed properties.

The Tobacco Manufacturing Plant represents the opportunity to regenerate an entire quadrant of the city of Florence and through the set of functions and activities that it is preparing to host, it can present itself as a contemporary counterpoint to the center of Florence where the unique concentration in the world of art, history and tradition is so exceptional that it downsizes contemporary initiatives.

The objectives of this project are:

• promote a sustainable intervention by avoiding proceeding with "demolition and reconstruction" and adopting the best solutions currently available in the technological, ecological and energy fields;


• create a place that facilitates community and allows people to share spaces and be together;


• create an open and connected place, stitching together the urban fabric to return the spaces of the manufacturing plant to the city;

For the drafting of the project, BIM software was used which constituted the general operational platform with which all the activities were integrated starting from the survey which was carried out with the support of the point cloud.

Building 6

Building 6 of the former Tobacco Factory was the subject of restoration and conservative rehabilitation to be used as the new (third) headquarters of Polimoda (Italian Fashion School) in Florence. The project is spread over 6,700 square meters and four levels, as well as a basement and a 360° panoramic terrace overlooking Florence. Thanks to a conservative recovery and an ad hoc reorganization of the spaces, it houses tailoring, knitwear, photographic studios, computer laboratories, as well as drawing and theory classrooms and a 250-seat lecture hall, to accommodate a total of approximately 800 students from all over the world, as well as teaching staff and staff.  The project focused on the recovery of spaces in a highly contemporary key and on the configuration of areas functional to teaching and practice. The original architecture of the building has been enhanced, preserving the industrial charm and unique character of factory, a place where the refinement of Italian rationalist architecture from the early 1900s gives shape to a manufacturing company. In giving new life to the Polimoda building, the architectural proportions were preserved and characterizing elements were reused, such as the large internal fixtures.

The masterplan was developed to facilitate all types of interconnections.