Guicciardini & Magni Architetti

Guicciardini & Magni Architects is an architectural practice mainly involved in cultural heritage projects at different scales, within the fields of Architecture, Architectural Restoration, Museum Exhibition Design and Interior Design.
Since 1990 Guicciardini & Magni Architects have realized more than thirty museums and fifty temporary exhibitions in Italy and abroad, dealing with every kind of exposition ranging from Archeology to Contemporary Art, Industrial Design to Classical Art and Ethnography to Fashion.
They have been appointed to work with masterpieces of the highest standard from every era and aim to establish a dialogue able to offer new interpretations of the original works of art and their context.
The competence of the working team is dependent on the quality of individual skills and experiences beyond architecture and into the realms of the Arts, Theatre Scenography, Photography, Product Design and other interdisciplinary studies.
Their philosophy, specific skills and understanding of Museum Design and object conservation is evident in several realized works such as the exposition of The Gate Of Paradise by Lorenzo Ghiberti, an iconic artwork from the Renaissance period in the new Cathedral Museum of Florence, Italy.
The studio has worked on over thirty museums. Some are listed below.

“Florence Cathedral Museum”, Florence
“Gülhane Museum in Topkapı Palace”, Istanbul
New Egyptian Wing in “Naples Archeological Museum”
“Pretorio Palace Museum”, Prato
“Civic Museums in Pio Palace”, Carpi, Modena
“Galileo Museum”, Florence
“Textile Museum”, Prato

Their work at the Galileo Museum in Florence included the renovation of the existing building, the design of the new interiors and the exposition of the museum artefacts and was awarded three major European Prizes: first Prize from the International Council Of Museums Italy in 2010, first Prize from the British Scientific Curators Society in 2010, the European Museum Academy Prize, Dortmund, Germany in 2011.
In the work of Guicciardini & Magni Architects a fundamental element is the design of significative multimedia installations in order to create synergy with the exhibited art works and the public.
Guicciardini & Magni Architects have acquired through the years a deep understanding of temporary exhibition design. Research being the guiding principle of their work, new projects are always influenced by their vast experience in other disciplines such as Scenography, Photography and the General Arts.
Over the past fifteen years the studio has worked on over fifty temporary exhibitions. Some are listed below.

“Michelangelo’s Youth” at the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence.
“Giotto” at the Accademia Gallery in Florence (since 2002 the most visited temporary Art exhibition in Italy)
“On Holy Ground” at the Royal Palace in Milan
“The Living Marbles. Gian Lorenzo Bernini” at the Bargello National Museum in Florence
“The Tsar style” at the Textile Museum in Prato
“The Treasure of St. Gennaro” at the Sciarra Palace in Rome

In addition to their experience in Museum Design their portfolio includes many theatres, libraries and residential projects together with urban planning and outdoor public spaces. The studio has also realized several hotels and tourism related infrastructures in many historical Tuscan towns.
Of the above can be cited the following.

The new Politeama Theatre and Rosselli Square in Poggibonsi.
The restoration of the nineteenth century Theatre of Castelfiorentino and the renewal of Gramsci Square
The renovation of the Colle Val d’Elsa Theatre and of the adjacent Square
The Public Library in the History of Science Institute in Florence (awarded an honourable mention by the Italian Public Libraries Institute in 2006).

The meaning of the 'house’ is one of the most important areas in Guicciardini & Magni Architects’ research. They have developed their ideas through the construction of new buildings and restoration and renovation projects using a total design process from macro to micro encompassing landscape, structural design, environmental control and sustainability through to the definition of internal spaces, furniture and product design.
From 1990 to 1995 they collaborated with Adolfo Natalini on a number of civic buildings, urban design projects, residential and retail developments in Italy and Europe, in particular the new Civic Centre in the heart of the City of Groningen in Holland.
Currently Guicciardini & Magni Architects consists of five associated architects, five senior architects alongside a young team of assistant architects and professional consultants for all aspects of the production of architecture for both public and private clients.
The studio is based in Florence with office in Poggibonsi (Siena) and a new office recently opened in Istanbul.