Firenze Interrotta | Baxter Hankin

The design is a hypothetical expansion to 1843 Florence as shown in the Fantozzi Map. The project is inspired by the Roma Interrotta project that was worked on by twelve notable architects such as Michael Graves, Aldo Rossi, Colin Rowe, and others.

This Firenze Interrotta project leaves the center of the city mainly intact, with the only main intervention being a restoration of the Roman Amphitheater. Three distinct neighborhoods are expanded beyond the old city walls. The first is inspired by the urban farming and garden city blocks of 1800s Florence. The second works with the shapes of plots of farmland to create a dense urban fabric. The third builds a dense urban fabric in valleys, while leaving hills and interstitial spaces as public green space.

Region one is inspired by the urban farming and garden city blocks of 1800s Florence. Farmhouses hug the street within large blocks, while the middle of these large blocks contain backyards, gardens, and farmland. This is keeping with the spirit of the large blocks containing green space in the center that exist within the Fantozzi map.

Region two is inspired by the urban farming and dense blocks of 1800s Florence. Dense urban fabric is built in accordance with the shape of the plots of farmland to the northeast of the city. The old city wall is punctured in strategic places, and is placed in the middle of a series of city blocks along with a new linear park. This park addresses the lack of public green space in Florence. Further out from the city center, a ring road is created, along with a connected series of piazzas.

Region three is inspired by the steep topography south of Florence's Arno River. Dense urban fabric is built around the hills, which are left open as public parks. Each hill has a circular street grid that surrounds it, with the spaces between these circular grids left open as piazzas. The old city wall remains, punctured by streets. 

Within the historic center of Florence, the old Roman Amphitheater has been demolished and several city blocks currently exist in its former location. Our new city plan proposes to reinstate an amphitheater and to carve out public spaces around it. This new system of piazzas connects Piazza di Santa Croce and Piazza della Signoria more seamlessly.