Brac Bookstore

Just a short walk from Piazza della Signoria and the Uffizi Gallery, tucked away among the many courtyards of Florence’s historic center, the “ Brac Bookstore ” reveals itself as a secret, enchanting gathering place where you can read, eat, drink, or simply relax in a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

The project to redesign the space stems from a desire to preserve the distinctive atmosphere that characterizes it, with the goal of refreshing its image by making the spaces more functional and giving greater visibility to the carefully curated selection of books.

The centerpiece of the project is the courtyard that visually connects the two main halls: a striking space characterized by verticality, color, and flexibility. It was designed with the goal of limiting noise transmission to the surrounding residences. Over 5,000 fabric strips, in 9 different colors, 5 centimeters wide and varying in length from 75 to 175 centimeters, hang from above and immerse the visitor in an evocative space. The strips are suspended from a lightweight, modular structure made of steel cables, anchored to the perimeter walls of the courtyard at a height that does not exceed the interior ceilings of the bookstore. This allows for varying configurations over time and with the seasons, thus adapting to the transformations and diverse needs of the café-bookstore.