Villa Strozzi's Limonaia of Florence - Posthumous building of Michelucci

The present work explains the studies of the restoration of the “Limonaia di Villa Strozzi” in Florence (whose project is attributed to G.Michelucci), and of its transformation in a multifunctional building. This work is part of a wider study focused on the great modern architects’ posthumous works, based on their projects, often explained only in terms of preliminary design, and realized after their death. The construction of the posthumous buildings, just for the areas of interest that invest, has always generated ethical and cultural debates, but nobody has never explained any operative and technical requirements for their realization or refurbishment. The building object of this study, designed by Michelucci in collaboration with the Archt. B.Sacchi, has had numerous changes due to the design process and the building construction phase of nearly 30 years. In fact, the original project was inserted into a master plan with the aim to realize in the park of Villa Strozzi, since 1972, a new museum of contemporary art. Different problems have made that the only building realized, among all the others expected, was the “Limonaia”. As a follow-on from this, the intended use of the building has been modified several times, due to different choices made over the years by the City of Florence and the District Council, that took a final shape only after Michelucci's death. As a consequence, the building should be considered as posthumous, with all the typical problems connected with such cases. This paper, through the analysis of the “Limonaia” design and its construction process, aims to highlight the delicate issues of the posthumous buildings. In particular, looking at the most representative elements of the Michelucci's design, it will present how to protect, restore or insert, in case of refurbishment or renovation, these fundamentals.