Regenerating via Palazzuolo

Florence’s mayor Sara Funaro recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Fondazione CR Firenze and the Municipality of Florence to launch Recreos, a project aimed at supporting the city’s economy by reviving local craftsmanship and prioritizing pedestrian spaces in the via Palazzuolo area, without eclipsing the city’s historic architecture and identity. The intent is to create a more social and sustainable Florence, with its people and artisans at the heart.

“The Recreos project stems from an ambition to regenerate and restore urban dignity to an area currently affected by complex issues,”

remarks Bernabò Bocca, president of Fondazione CR Firenze.

“The goal is twofold: to address security, liveability and depopulation issues, on the one hand, and to encourage the return of the local artisan and economic fabric, on the other. Recreos offers a city model—one that can be replicated elsewhere—that promotes quality of daily life, slow mobility and the rediscovery of public spaces as places to meet, work and look after together.”

“We know that the area around via Palazzuolo needs multiple responses in terms of safety, commerce, and residential life,”

commented Mayor Sara Funaro.

“We’ve been working for some time on various actions in the area, starting with the redevelopment of the Santa Maria Novella complex. That’s why we enthusiastically welcomed Fondazione CR Firenze’s proposal to collaborate on this project. It’s a model we aim to replicate in other parts of the city, starting from one of Florence’s core strengths—its artisan workshops.”

The plans focus on the section between via Maso Finiguerra and via del Porcellana, where a low-traffic area will be created to enhance pedestrian access to workshops, studios, and small artisan businesses. The section between via del Moro and via del Porcellana, and between via dell’Albero and via Rucellai, will be redesigned with wide sidewalks and street furniture. Special attention will be given to the quality of details: the introduction of greenery—through trees and vertical gardens on building façades—will provide shade, comfort and promote urban biodiversity. The use of natural materials, combined with soft lighting, is intended to ensure safety and accentuate the aesthetic, highlighting the beauty of the existing architecture. Further plans include turning via Maso Finiguerra into a square for socializing and gathering.

The scheme seeks to allocate 43 currently vacant spaces to artisans, with selected proposals given access to renovated spaces for three years – free of charge. There have already been 222 expressions of interest, and 80 artisans have participated in preliminary interviews. The majority of these creatives come from the visual arts (painting, drawing, sculpture, graphic design, etc.), with additional applications for tailoring, violin making, and leatherwork businesses.

Luca Dini Design & Architecture, with a background in luxury yacht design, has been hired to carry out the design for this urban renewal. London’s Notting Hill, Paris’ Le Marais, Miami’s Design District, and Dumbo in New York are cited as inspiration, as well as Florence’s own via Gioberti.