Symbiotic Insertions

How do we add modern additions to the historical city of Florence? Rather than building in the piazzas, obstructing views of the residents and the tourists, the hotels are situated on the roofs of existing buildings. The piazzas are left with minimal interventions to preserve open public space along the Arno. A traditional hotel is catered to tourists that come for a week and then leave, but the design looks to create a more lasting connection. Situated as an extension of home or business, the insertion bridges the gap between Airbnb and a hotel. The units infill the voids in the urban fabric, creating a new layer of architecture above the city. 

The video above highlights initial studies done in the predesign phase of the studio.