The airport in Florence, Italy — the gateway to Tuscany’s gorgeous wine country — is getting some grape-related upgrades. Renowned architecture group Rafael Viñoly Architects is constructing a new terminal that will include six hubs for arrivals and departures, a large public “piazza,” a new light rail system that will link the airport to the city center, and of course, a rooftop vineyard.
The design plans reveal that the 19-acre vineyard, which will house 38 rows of vines, will slope upward to complement the sky-lit terminal. In addition to serving as an homage to the region’s dedication to viticulture, the vineyard will be a valuable feature in the building’s overall sustainability initiatives. The soil and greenery on the roof will act as a thermal insulator that will help reach the goal of LEED Platinum sustainability rating. And because looks do matter when it comes to travel, the vineyard will also help the airport better blend in with the rolling hills that surround it: the vines will completely cover the airport terminal when viewed from Brunelleschi’s Duomo and other notable landmarks.
The vineyard will be managed and harvested by one of the region’s leading vintners, and the wine will be produced and aged on site in specialized cellars, according to the architecture group. It remains to be known exactly what grapes will be planted on the roof and which local winemaker will head up the project. Based on the region’s most renowned wines, we’ll venture a guess that there will be
