LIBRERIA BRAC

Just a short walk from Piazza della Signoria and the Uffizi Gallery, hidden within the courtyards of Florence’s historic centre, Libreria Brac reveals itself as an intimate and unexpected meeting place where visitors can read, eat, drink or simply spend time in a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

The redesign of the space stems from the desire to preserve the distinctive character of Libreria Brac while renewing its image, improving the functionality of the interiors and giving greater visibility to its carefully curated selection of books.

The centrepiece of the project is the courtyard that visually connects the two main rooms: a striking space defined by verticality, colour and flexibility. The intervention was also conceived to reduce the transmission of noise towards the surrounding residences.
More than 5,000 fabric strips, in nine different colours, each five centimetres wide and varying in length from 75 to 175 centimetres, are suspended above the courtyard, creating an immersive and constantly changing environment. The strips hang from a lightweight modular structure of steel cables anchored to the perimeter walls, at a height that remains below the ceilings of the surrounding interiors.
The system allows the installation to be reconfigured over time and according to the seasons, adapting to the changing activities and different needs of the bookstore, café and restaurant.