Transforming to define the sustainable urban form. Planning ecological urban quarters into Florence's old barracks

The paper describes future urban challenges on transforming old barracks of distinctive typology and strong identity located in core surrounding areas in Florence. It shows how relationship between old barracks and urban environment has to be considered as key to understanding the significance of urban regeneration. It Illustrates how complexity of intervention has to be faced in transforming military areas into ecological and sustainable urban quarters. To make cities more sustainable is important to re-think properly to transform existing urban areas and to regenerate them for a new urban living. The development of the old military areas in inner and outer urban areas in Florence is considered a great challenge for the achievement of urban fabric. The paper is focuses on defining the “development form” according to the essential principles of sustainability to be adopted for a well-planned site.