Rafael Viñoly Architects unveils vineyard-roofed terminal for Florence airport
Rafael Viñoly Architects has proposed a new international terminal for Florence's Amerigo Vespucci Airport featuring a 7-hectare vineyard roof with 38 rows of vines, inspired by Tuscan winemaking tradition. An unnamed major regional winemaker will manage on-site production and aging in cellars beneath the terminal. The project, announced in early 2024, includes a longer, reoriented runway and a 50,000 sqm terminal designed to handle 5.9 million international passengers annually—double the 3 million recorded in 2023. Arrivals and departures will face each other across a central piazza with full services. The plan unfolds in two phases: the first by 2026, the second by 2035. Investment figures have not been disclosed. The proposal raises questions about compatibility between aviation and viticulture, particularly regarding emissions from flights and their impact on wine quality.
Key facts
- Rafael Viñoly Architects designed a new terminal for Florence's Amerigo Vespucci Airport
- The terminal features a 7-hectare vineyard roof with 38 rows of vines
- A major regional winemaker will produce and age wine on site
- The airport is less than 5 km from Florence city center
- The new terminal will cover nearly 50,000 sqm
- Passenger capacity is projected at 5.9 million per year
- The airport surpassed 3 million passengers for the first time in 2023
- The project has two phases: 2026 and 2035
Entities
Artists
- Rafael Viñoly
Institutions
- Rafael Viñoly Architects
- Artribune
Locations
- Florence
- Italy
- Amerigo Vespucci Airport
- Santa Maria Novella railway station
- Tuscany