In wine country, Rafael Vignoli Architects is designing a new major international terminal at Aeroporto Amerigo Vespucci, on the outskirts of the historic center of Florence, Italy. Once completed, the terminal will serve approximately 6 million international passengers. He has six hubs for arrivals and departures, connected to a low glass volume that extends vertically to the more expansive airport area, where ticketing, management, passenger drop-off and pick-up, and other logistics activities take place.
To accommodate the huge number of passengers, the new terminal will have an area of 538,195 square feet. Intermodal transport options, including a new light rail system, will link Florence with the wider region.
In the new terminal, Rafael Viñoly Architects has breathed new meaning into the green roof typology. In a first for airport design, the terminal’s rooftop features a 19-acre vineyard that slopes upward to wrap around the sky-lit terminal. The rooftop features 38 rows of productive vineyards, crystallizing Italy’s rich artisanal tradition while contributing to its preliminary LEED Platinum sustainability rating. The green roof will be cultivated by the region’s leading winemakers. The wine produced will be made and aged in a dedicated cellar under the roof of the terminal.
The roof will be supported by innovative tensegral structural columns. Ribbed openings flood the interior with natural light. The expansive cleaning space is designed to maximize user comfort and simplify wayfinding.
The new terminal aims to reorient the existing airport runway by 90 degrees, making the strip perpendicular to the nearby hills. This will make it possible to significantly extend the runway and solve problems that aircraft have long faced at Aeroporto Amerigo Vespucci.
Rafael Viñoly Architects also aims to create a sense of place. The trajectory of genius, improving the overall passenger experience. To achieve that goal, the terminal will reorient arriving and departing flights so that they face each other across spacious public spaces. square, located in the center of the new terminal. This should improve circulation and streamline connections to public transport, parking and retail.
The new terminal will be built in two phases. The first phase is expected to be completed in 2026 and the second phase in 2035.