The Pagliere Reali project addresses the restoration and adaptive reuse of a building constructed in 1870 on the edge of the Boboli Gardens in Florence. Initiated in 2017 for the Uffizi Galleries and extending across approximately 1,800 square metres, the project aims to transform the historic complex into a multifunctional venue for events, exhibitions and cultural activities.
The design strategy was organised into functional phases so that different parts of the property could progressively be brought into use. The first phase, funded by the University of Florence through an affiliated company, recovered the interiors and restored their original spatial character, removing inappropriate alterations and preparing them for new uses.
Of particular significance is the double-height “scannafosso”, a service passage approximately eighty metres long in total. Its proportions and strong material character make it suitable for visual art exhibitions, installations and temporary routes.
The project, developed using rigorous restoration techniques, begins with the building’s memory and its relationship with the monumental landscape of Boboli. Flexible spaces can host different programmes and adapt to future requirements, turning the recovery of existing heritage into a practical act of cultural, economic and environmental sustainability.
Aware of the challenges of globalisation, we draw on Italian creativity to develop projects that respect and enhance local identities and cultures.
