Florentine Architects Appeal to Save Isozaki's Uffizi Loggia
A group of architectural organizations from Florence, including Ance Firenze, the Order of Architects of Florence, the Florence Architects Foundation, and the Michelucci Foundation, has called on Italy's Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano and Florence Mayor Dario Nardella to advance the long-delayed Loggia for the Uffizi Galleries designed by Arata Isozaki. They oppose Sangiuliano's idea of a 'green wall,' stressing the need to maintain Isozaki's original vision. This loggia, which Isozaki and Andrea Maffei won in a competition back in 1999, has faced delays for over 20 years. In 2020, €12 million was designated to revitalize the project, which the architects believe would enrich Florence's cultural scene, criticizing the 'green wall' as ill-suited.
Key facts
- Ance Firenze, the Order of Architects of Florence, the Florence Architects Foundation, and the Michelucci Foundation co-signed the letter.
- The letter is addressed to Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano and Mayor Dario Nardella.
- Sangiuliano proposed replacing the Isozaki loggia with a 'green wall.'
- The international design competition was held in 1998-1999.
- Arata Isozaki and Andrea Maffei won the competition in 1999.
- Other invited architects included Tadao Ando, Gae Aulenti, Mario Botta, Norman Foster, Frank Gehry, Vittorio Gregotti, Hans Hollein, Jean Nouvel, Richard Meier, and Rafael Moneo.
- The loggia is 23 meters high, matching the height of the Loggia dei Lanzi.
- In 2020, Dario Franceschini allocated €12 million from the 'Grandi progetti culturali' plan.
- Undersecretary Vittorio Sgarbi also proposed halting the project.
- The architects argue the 'green wall' is poorly contextualized and difficult to maintain, citing the Murate complex in Florence.
Entities
Artists
- Arata Isozaki
- Andrea Maffei
- Tadao Ando
- Gae Aulenti
- Mario Botta
- Norman Foster
- Frank O. Gehry
- Vittorio Gregotti
- Hans Hollein
- Jean Nouvel
- Richard Meier
- Rafael Moneo
Institutions
- Ance Firenze
- Order of Architects of Florence
- Florence Architects Foundation
- Michelucci Foundation
- Uffizi Galleries
- Ministry of Culture (Italy)
- MiC
- Artribune
Locations
- Florence
- Italy
- Piazza del Grano
- Loggia dei Lanzi
- Murate complex