MASTERS THESIS PROJECT | ANIMA BENESSERE

SOFTWARE USED IN PROJECT: AutoCAD, Revit, 3Ds Max, Vray, Photoshop, Indesign

English Translation: Soul Wellness Center

INTRODUCTION TO LE MURATE

LOACTION : Piazza delle Murate, 50122 Firenze FI

NEIGHBORHOODS: SANTA CROCE + SANT' AMBROGIO

BUILT : 1412

Le Murate is one of the most historic landmarks to the city of Florence. Le Murate is located on Piazza delle Murate, between Via dell’Agnolo and Via Ghibellina and has served several important uses for the city. Le Murate was built in 1424 and is most known for its original purpose of high walls surrounding the site, which inspired the current name of the building murate, which translates as “walled up”.

HISTORY OF LE MURATE

The original purpose of the buildings was used as a nunnery called the Santissima Annunziata alle Murate and Santa Caterina convent for the Benedictine nuns. The nuns lived a religious life within the walls of the convent. Later the nuns were relocated due to flooding, and between the years of 1807 and 1814, Napoleon invaded Italy and ordered all monasteries and convents across Italy to close to help increase military finds. After Napoleon’s defeat in 1814, Le Murate was abandoned until 1845. Le Murate reopened as a male prison. As a prison, Le Murate faced many issues from prisoner revolt and flooding from the Arno river. Le Murate eventually became overcrowded and began to deteriorate. Conditions of the prison became worse and a decade later eventually closed in 1985.

SITE PHOTOS

CONTEXT TODAY

After being neglected for 25 years, Le Murate reopened in 2011 and is one of the newest places for the city to hang out and enjoy the ambiance of food, music, and art in a historical setting. Le Murate is one of Florence’s major architectural success stories, restoratored and preserved by the Italian architect Renzo Piano.This historical site, now has become a social and recreational hub for the residents and neighborhood. Le Murate is open for the community and includes social housing, parking, shops, restaurants, bars and open exterior space for public gatherings.

OPPURTUNITY LE MURATE

After carefully researching the site of Le Murate and studying the communities needs and interests, I felt the neighborhood needed a wellness and healthcare facility. As an interior designer, it is fundamental to create a design that is both aesthetic and functional, while enhancing the user’s life and health. During this global pandemic, the Wellness

Center will primarily focus on one of the largest issues we face as humans today. With the Covid-19 virus, human health both physically and mentally have been greatly affected.

Designing a center that focuses on these key factors in Florence, will benefit and increase health, prosperity, and community. Creating a Wellness Center that promotes human health by providing supportive amenities and focusing on the relationship between humans and their environment. Providing different services in the design of the Wellness

Center, allows people to improve their daily lives in a tranquil environment and serves to help each individual. The wellness center brings people together of all ages in an interactive

facility that offers specialty services for residents and community members. The name ‘Anima’ is derived from the Italian translation of the word ‘soul’. All components to the wellness center, ultimately focus on the individual health, happiness, and soul. The project respects the current purpose of the site and enhances the quality of life, while focusing on human and environmental wellbeing. The design focuses on the connection and interaction to nature and to improve human health.

PLANS

GROUND FLOOR: 2,762.91 m²

FIRST FLOOR: 840.39 m²

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TOTLAL: 3,603.30 sq.m. m²

ZONNING PLANS

DEMOLITION PLANS

FURNITURE PLANS

SECTIONS

RENDERS

CAFE

The cafe services organic and local produce, to support local vendors and a healthy lifestyle. The design will possess indoor and outdoor seating with a larger ordering and food preparation bar. In the dining room closest to the public garden, the design feels as if one is dining in a greenhouse.

GARDEN

In this Wellness Center, the space is a quiet meditation garden. The layout of the garden is formed in a linear axis to create unity and balance to the space. Along the form there are beaches, a pond, seating, trees, and a vegetable garden box. In the garden, the plants and pond will increase the therapeutic care and environment for the user of the facility.

YOGA STUDIO

The studio spaces in the Wellness center focus on both people’s physical and mental health. The studio spaces contain art and yoga classes that have been proven to ease the mind and be therapeutic.

SPA

The Rejuvenation Spa in the Wellness Center includes an indoor pools, mediation room, and sauna room. The spa is composed of a large room with a large pool, which helps users blood flow and muscle relaxation. User’s practice self care in a relaxing environment. The space contains a large green wall, lounge furniture, and natural finished adding to the tranquil calming atmosphere.

CLINIC

With the global pandemic, as a designer it is important to respond to the need and attention towards physical and mental health. In creating a faulty that helps each individual through these times and moving forward. The clinic contains 5 exam rooms, 3 physical therapy rooms, 4 doctors offices, 3 consulting therapy rooms, and 1 radiology room.

GLASS STRUCTURE DETAIL

The gym in the Wellness Center is located in the center courtyard of the faucity. The new structure is detached from the main building and is made of glass and steel. The structure is composed for a steel frame with glass walls. The roof is a flat structure and is anchored to the steel frame along the perimeter. The roof is composed of panels along the entire structure, that open and close. The motorized controlled roof panels allow nature light to enter the structure, while being able to control the sun exposure and ventilation.

Bioclimatic Pergolas are adjustable and retractable sunshade blades that allow proper control of ventilation and sunlight. The blades are made of aluminum and can rotate up to 140 degrees, which is the ideal rotation to allow the optimal brightness and air flow creating comfortable conditions in the bioclimatic pergola. In instances of rain, the blades close and the rainwater will flow to the perimeter of the pergola to the rain gutters integrated into the structure. . The bioclimatic pergola's blades offer protection from sun, rain, and snow. of aluminum and stainless steel to offer the most durability. When the blades are upright the measure 15 x 10 cm.

STRUCTURE DIAGRAM

GYM

The gym is the second space a user walks into and contains a reception area and wide range of exercise equipment. The gym is in a detached glass structure and contains new roof technology to allow proper ventilation and natural light.

VISUAL IDENTITY (LOGO)

CONCLUSION

The Anima Benessere provides a Wellness Center that focuses on improving aspects of human health and environmental issues. As a designer, it was important to create a facility that promotes wellness as well as increases the sense of community in Florence. Creating a facility that possesses several different components of health all together in one area, provides users with personal resources for happiness and prosperity especially during the times of the global pandemic. The theme of humanitarian in the project derives from the mission of improving issues of human health and wellness. The Wellness Center offers options for physical health through the clinic and gym amenities. As well as a more spiritual and mental approach through consulting rooms, garden spaces, a relaxation spa and yoga studios. The theme ecological is shown through the sustainable materials used throughout the entire project and gentle approach to create a calming environment in all spaces. The Anima Benessere provides supportive amenities for the community of Florence and around Le Murate. The facility focuses on the wellness and relationship between humans and their environment, while bringing the community together.