The construction of the new Municipal Theater of Empoli is part of a larger and more complex project of urban regeneration and redevelopment of the entire area of Piazza Guido Guerra, which will lead to the creation of a building open to citizenship that takes its cue from the history and socio-economic fabric of the city of Empoli.

The design of the new theater “Il Ferruccio” has involved all the economic operators of the RTP, which is distinguished by the composition of the international experience of the group leader Archea Associati with young professionals who have provided their knowledge residing in the territory of Empolese Valdelsa. In the first analysis, the reports of the participatory process “Teatro. Punto e a capo,” entrusted to the company Avventura Urbana S.r.l. where the considerations of citizens were collected, necessary to guide the future design of the Theater.

The project developed by the RTP stems from a careful analysis of the feasibility project, which is essential for the development of the project, with a view to creating an innovative space that respects the cultural and landscape value, while preserving the identity of the place. Aimed at a profound redevelopment of the subject area, the designed space turns out to be about 26,000 square meters in total, including a covered area of 2,130 square meters and a total gross usable area of 4,700 square meters, distributed over four floors: basement (1,100 square meters), ground floor (1,500 square meters), second floor (930 square meters) and second floor (1,240 square meters). The building includes three main rooms: a main hall dedicated to symphonic music and drama (500 seats), an auditorium with a stage (150 seats), and a multipurpose space of 260 square meters.

In addition to the design of the new theater, the urban space that links the new cultural park to the historic center was also conceived, providing for the demolition of the west wing of the exhibition hall, while maintaining an important free parking area to serve the historic center of the city of Empoli.

The theater has been repositioned so that “the fold” daughter of the feasibility project, acquires more strength by aligning with the axis of Via Ridolfi, one of the main streets of the city that defines the so-called “turn of Empoli.” The project envisions two squares, one more open, on the edge of p.zza Guido Guerra, which is identified as a link between the historic center and the theater, and another square of a functional character that is delineated between the new theater and the exhibition hall. The conformation of that square makes it perfect for organizing events en plein air, identifying the two buildings as side wings of a large outdoor sharing space.

Another inescapable element of the project is the theme of glass; the history that bound and still binds the socio-economic fabric of the city to this material is of primary importance. The design of the New Municipal Theater of Empoli is therefore a great opportunity to manifest and highlight the genius loci strongly linked to glass and the Arno, bringing the special experience of local craftsmanship to the architectural scale.

The goal is to create an open and inclusive building that takes on the role of a matrix for the urban regeneration of the area, with the possibility, by using local materials, technologies and workers, to give the building a strong identity value for the population of the city of Empoli.