This Airport Is A Vineyard

Have you ever been standing outside, looking at an airport terminal roof and thinking to yourself, “this could really do with a vineyard.” Neither. But Rafael Viñoly Architects on the other hand have a far more lateral approach to the point of airport terminals than the rest of us and have made that the key concept for Florence Airport: a vineyard on the roof. Yes, because when you think of air travel, the first thing that comes to mind is definitely wine cultivation.

This isn’t just any rooftop gimmick; it’s a 7.7-hectare operating vineyard complete with skylights strategically placed to ensure the vines get enough of that Tuscan sun. Featuring 38 rows of vines, each row forming part of this grand architectural experiment. The plan is a nod to Tuscany’s wine heritage.

Below this agrarian spectacle, nestled within the terminal’s structure, will be specialised cellars for aging the wine.

As well as an airport wine cellar, the interior design features a central plaza, flanked by arrivals and departures, aiming to streamline the chaotic dance of travelers. They are also extending and rotating the runway by 90 degrees to accommodate the ever-bloating size of modern aircraft.

As we watch this project unfold, one can’t help but wonder: in the quest to create more outlandish architectural projects have we finally jumped the shark? Only time, and perhaps the quality of the rooftop terroir, will tell.