The project called for the creation of a mosque, a church and a connecting space in the Anconella Park alongside the Arno River in Florence.
The first essential step in finding a workable solution proved to be acknowledging the difficulties of such a problematic relationship. The proposal therefore avoids the presumption of an unlikely harmonious spatial contiguity, but instead represents a compromise between the need for a solid individual identity and the search for dialogue. As such, the structure stretches along the river following the axiality suggested by the site.
It further establishes a physical distance between the church and the mosque.
This distance is filled with two crossing steps that guarantee independent but crossing accesses for the buildings so that any patron may freely access the other worship space. The crossing steps also symbolize the encounter of the two cultures reaching out for each other.
Reflection and introversion such as the movement of the water opposed to the solidity of the walls are the natural framing for this encounter and descend from the interpretation of the genius loci.The presence of the water attracts the buildings and determines their positioning on the edge of the river.
The solid image of architecture fades away in its reflection, replicating the unique relationship between Florence and its river.
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