Rogers designs Scandicci New Centre

Memory of project

A series of buildings and a new tram line – connecting the town to the centre of Florence – have been built around a public piazza, focusing a series of activities from public to private, for the whole community.

The new development at Scandicci is characterised by buildings that respect the scale of their surroundings and create a contemporary architectural language, that gives cohesion between all the different typologies, whilst responding to their individual functions. The result is a restrained architectural aesthetic that directs attention towards the setting rather than the buildings themselves.

The choice of materials was fundamental to the process of creating an ensemble of buildings. A limited palette was selected for all buildings, including natural anodized aluminium, concrete, glass, stainless steel and terracotta. Terracotta has been used as a building material in Tuscany for centuries and so the new project continues this tradition in a contemporary way. The red tone of the terracotta, framed by natural anodized aluminium and inset within visibly expressed concrete frame, creates a language that places the traditional local materials in a new, fresh setting.

The mix of buildings that have been designed as part of the project include a cultural centre, a commercial building and residences. The cultural centre frames the eastern edge of the piazza and provides a multi-functional hall for seminars, conferences, exhibitions and concerts. It is designed for and operated by the local council and offers completely flexible spaces inside, allowing for future adaptation. It can work both independently or in tandem with the piazza outside to stimulate ideas about public activity.

The commercial building is also fully adaptable inside and can therefore be used as open plan office space or divided into smaller, cellular units. As the tallest structure in the new ensemble, it acts as a marker on the horizon, directing people tocentre of the renewed Scandicci.

Adopting a modular approach, the design for the residential building allowed for changes to the layout configuration of the flats, even during construction, therefore catering for changing market conditions.

The tramline that connects Scandicci to the centre of Florence in a just few stops is the key element towards urban integration. Creating such transport links encourages development and growth, while simultaneously limiting the dependance on cars and discouraging suburban sprawl.

The project adopts a sustainable approach by including the installation of solar and photo-voltaic elements, as well as a green roof on the cultural building. The landscape concept with its linear arrangement of trees and benches alongside the tramline helps to unite the development, including the new parking area.

Text.- Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners