The project for the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnology addresses the restoration and upgrading of spaces within the seventeenth-century Palazzo Non Finito in Florence’s historic centre. The building takes its name — the “Unfinished Palace” — from sections of the internal courtyard elevations that were left incomplete, with exposed brickwork still visible. The museum contains an early-twentieth-century display and collections of major scientific and cultural significance.
Commissioned by private parties interested in developing a project finance initiative for the owner, Studio Lauria developed a scheme covering approximately 1,620 square metres. It established the overall criteria for conserving the building and renewing the museum spaces. The aim was to reconcile the preservation of historic memory with contemporary requirements for visitor access, safety and operation.
The design included the upgrading and integration of building services, improved circulation and new areas for cultural events and temporary exhibitions. The museum design was therefore conceived as part of a broader enhancement strategy: not a decorative overlay, but a flexible system capable of making the collections more legible and supporting different activities over time. The project was developed in collaboration with Aldo Colonetti and Moreno Ferrari.
Aware of the challenges of globalisation, we draw on Italian creativity to develop projects that respect and enhance local identities and cultures.
