The project for Banca Ifigest’s new headquarters in Florence involves new construction after demolition of the entire existing complex with a change of use from industrial/industrial to office. Specifically, it is planned to locate the bank on the ground floor and the part dedicated to executive activities on the second floor along Via Mannelli.

The new building will be developed around two courtyards: the main one, which will represent the large square visible from the primary entrance, under which the parking lot will be built – and which is located beyond the two-level building that stands along Mannelli Street – and the smaller secondary courtyard around which other offices and rooms with the function of warehouse and facilities will be arranged. The facade of the building facing Mannelli Street will have a design characterized by alternating solids and voids punctuated by vertical elements with a screening function. This “classical” language reworks the theme of the basement, body and crowning in a modern key.

The rooms on the ground floor will develop from an annular distribution path around the large central courtyard, which will feature continuous seating on all sides that will contain within it air openings for parking ventilation. The corridor, thanks to a system of continuous glazing, will bring light into the interior offices, which will be separated from each other by glass partitions.

Also on the ground floor will be common spaces such as a relaxation area, arranged in a corner of the main courtyard facing Mannelli Street, and an auditorium placed instead in the communication space between the two courtyards.

The back part will replicate the conformation just described: there will be a smaller secondary courtyard around which will be developed an annular distributive path that will give access to various rooms such as a series of offices, a storage room, an archive, the technical spaces in addition to a kitchen and an area dedicated to the toilets. From the technical room it will be possible to access a small cloister.

More offices will be built on the second floor, some accessible from the common-use stair block and elevator present on the street front (Mannelli Street), others via a gallery connected both to the two stair blocks arranged on the long side of the main courtyard and to the stair block and elevator arranged on the short side, in the space between the two courtyards. An additional row of offices is planned along the secondary courtyard, while the distribution gallery will provide access to the uncovered and screened technical room, in which the heating and cooling plant and AHUs will be located.