The new international terminal at Florence’s Amerigo Vespucci Airport project, designed by Rafael Vinoly Architects, features a roof vineyard gently sloping upward to cover a naturally lit terminal with the capacity to handle over 5.9 million international passengers annually.  Spanning 50,000 m², the terminal integrates multi-modal transport options, including a new light rail system that provides a fast and sustainable connection between the airport, the city, and the region.

One of the key interventions of the project involves reorienting the existing runway, which is currently too short and limited by nearby hills. The new runway is rotated 90 degrees away from the hills and extended to accommodate modern aircraft.

The architecture is inspired by the vineyards typical of Tuscany, the heart of Italy’s wine country,  with a design that partially raises the land to house the terminal beneath it. Linear precast concrete structures support the soil and irrigation system for the vineyard, upheld by branching columns that ensure internal layout flexibility. Between the 38 linear structures—2.8 meters wide and ranging between 455 and 570 meters in length—are 1,2-meter-wide insulated skylights that flood the interior with natural light. 

The trapezoidal cross-section of the structures enhances the view of the sky from below, while the rooftop vineyard also provides thermal insulation, contributing to the building’s goal of achieving a LEED Platinum certification.

The vineyard can be managed by a leading local winemaker, with wine produced and aged on-site in cellars located below the sloping section of the terminal. Alternatively, a particular selected species of vine can be planted, with no grapes - limiting interferiences with birds and the airport activity.

This expansive surface, which conceals the terminal from iconic viewpoints like Brunelleschi’s Duomo, becomes both a symbol of sustainability and a testament to Italy’s tradition and innovative spirit.

The design also enhances the passenger experience and creates a strong sense of place. Unlike the typical arrangement of Arrivals and Departures, the terminal positions them opposite each other around a large central “Piazza,” simplifying circulation flows and improving access to public transit, parking, and retail spaces that serve both travelers and the local community.

On one side of the Piazza, the ground-level check-in area leads via escalators to a raised platform containing immigration, duty-free shops, restaurants, and lounges. This platform bridges over the Piazza to reach the Departures concourse, which features fully glazed enclosures with views of the runway and surrounding hills.

This layout ensures clear navigation: passengers maintain a visual connection to their destinations at all times. For example, arriving passengers can see the terminal exits leading to the Piazza as soon as they step off the jetway, with minimal distances to traverse before reaching the public space and its multi-modal transport options.