n the hearth of Florence stands a concrete house that looks a bit like a ship. Instead of sailing on the water, however, it is sailing on a green field. It develops in length and at the top it has long green chimneys reminiscent of boat masts and is completely immersed in nature.
The Villa was built by the architect Alberto Paoli in 1975. Paoli was a well-known professional in Florentine circles. He came from a line of architects and was a keen sailor. It is perhaps his love of the sea that inspired this villa. The structure is reminiscent of the rationalist architecture of the modern movement, with horizontal partitions ‘supported’ by large windows. A touch of brutalism appears in the beams and pillars left with exposed concrete, emphasising the plasticity of the architecture.