“Too Many Wonderful Projects Remain Mirages”

Manifattura Tabacchi comprises 16 buildings, including flats, showrooms, a university, kindergartens, restaurants, and retail outlets.

Luca and Marco Baldini are transforming the 100,000-squaremetre site of a former tobacco factory in Florence into a new district outside the city centre.

MANIFATTURA TABACCHI/FLORENCE “TOO MANY WONDERFUL PROJECTS REMAIN MIRAGES”

Brothers Luca and Marco Baldini are the driving force behind q-bic, which has been spearheading projects such as La Menagere, Moebius, and Mercato Centrale in Italy and abroad since 2005. Their latest project is the revitalisation of Manifattura Tabacchi in Florence, dubbed “a new city centre beyond downtown”. We sat down with them to discuss the transformation of city centres as commercial hubs of society.

Text: Janaina Engelmann-Brothánek. Photos: Manifattura Tabacchi

You specialise in spaces that fuse design, art, fashion, and gastronomy. How do you perceive the transformation of city centres?

Luca Baldini, architect at q-bic: There is certainly no lack of ideas on how to restore the appeal of city centres. However, the implementation is often challenging, because in order to achieve real (r)evolutions, both administration and commerce need to work on and for these transformations alongside planners. Far too often, wonderful projects remain no more than mirages. I believe that future cities should abandon the dichotomy of city centre/commerce and suburbs/residential. As in the past, one should be able to do everything in city centres: dwell, work, consume, and play – in short: live.

Manifattura Tabacchi is a project that strives to implement all these aspects. Tell us what you have in mind.

Marco Baldini, designer at q-bic: Manifattura Tabacchi is an old tobacco factory just outside Florence’s historic city centre that remained in operation until 2001. Our vision for this 100,000 sqm site is to revitalise it, to turn it into an urban area beyond the city centre. The visions of planners and owners, a joint venture between cdp immobiliare and Gruppo AERMONT, coincide in this project. It should not be a purely residential or commercial district, but offer everything people need for living – including aspects that inspire mind and soul. Last but not least, it needs to be sustainable in nature with plenty of green areas. Luca Baldini: Manifattura Tabacchi is intended to be attractive to everyone, not only its residents. The aim is to also attract people from surrounding areas and the city centre.

Does this reflect the future of retail? Places, both within and outside city centres, that offer a 360-degree experience?

Luca Baldini: We need a compelling reason to travel into town, because we can order everything from home with the click of a button. Marco Baldini: These places are references to the past. The “piazza” was once the heart of social life. Think of the little “bottega” next to the café or carpentry workshop. This is where children used to play football while pensioners watched from a bench. We urban planners need to recreate such places, and politicians should support our efforts. This is how trade can flourish once more.