Firenze's Manifattura Tabacchi: 70% of Urban Regeneration Complete

The Manifattura Tabacchi regeneration in Florence has reached 70% completion, with key milestones in 2025 including the opening of an aparto residence with 520 beds and a 4,000 sqm SYNLAB Medical Centre. The project, started in 2018, is a car-free zone accessible only on foot or by bike. Future developments include Futura (98 apartments by Piuarch and q-bic, due by July 2026) and Zenit (34 units by Quincoces Dragò & Partners). Social housing will provide 39 affordable rental apartments for young couples and disadvantaged families, with a 12-year subsidized rent and option to buy. The project emphasizes ethical development, with public works (including a nursery) completed before residential sales. A centralized energy system using groundwater exchange creates a de facto energy community, making each user interdependent. Architects Michelangelo Giombini and Roberta Pasinetti highlight the project's unique balance of functions—housing, shops, schools, clinic, and hospitality—within Florence's historic context. The regeneration is backed by Cassa Depositi e Prestiti and investor Aermont, with completion targeted for 2028.