Florence Train Station in Italy

¶ … Florence train station and its qualities. The Florence train station might be expected to be designed in the classic or even art deco style, but instead, it is a classic and well-known example of Italian modernism.

The Firenze Santa Maria Novella or the Stazione di Santa Maria Novella is the main train station in Florence. A group of Italian architects called the Gruppo Toscano (Tuscan Group) completed it in 1934. Architects Giovanni Michelucci and Italo Gamberini were two of the members of this group. Italian Dictator Benito Mussolini approved of the final design of the station after a controversial competition, and many architects believe the Tuscan Group modeled their design after Viennese modern architecture and America's Frank Lloyd Wright, known for his modern and novel architecture. The Tuscan Group only designed the front of the building, the platforms, waiting areas, and such were designed by an Italian Ministry of Communications national architect.

The front of the building is long and low, covered with graceful cantilevered canopies. The facade includes three abstract fasces and inside, the space is quite open, with large skylights overhead that give a feeling of openness and space. These skylights are unique because they cover the area without any visible means of support, which only adds to the feeling of space and openness. They are imbedded in a simple flat, metal roof, which breaks up the building's horizontal line and adds to the uniqueness of the overall design. Large windows also line the passenger concourse, giving additional light and style to the modernistic building. The simplicity of the design was controversial from the start, and many Italians did not like it, although it marks Italy's entry into modernistic design.

The material chosen for the design is especially important, because it pays homage to the historic Santa Maria Novella church located adjacent to the station. The station's frontage is constructed with a reddish-orange pietra forte stone and the stone corresponds to the architecture of the historic Gothic church. Inside, traditional green and white marble make up the floors, adding a splash of color to the bright interior, and mirroring the interior of the nearby church, as well. This is really the only nod to history the designers employed, and it would probably not be apparent to most of the people who bustle through the terminal today. However, architects and experts recognize the importance and implications for historic design in the materials. In addition, it was one of the first truly modern buildings constructed in Florence, so its' design set it even more apart from the surrounding buildings, almost as if it was flaunting the historic symbolism of its' surroundings.

The concourse inside the building resembles a broad boulevard, and it was designed to become a gateway to the center of Florence, connecting one side of the city to the other in every way. It runs perpendicular to the train tracks, and is lined with shops along with ticket counters and information booths. Above the facades of the shops are a long row of black and white illustrations of the surrounding area, adding a bit of artwork to the modernity of the station.