Finally. After more than two decades, the Isozaki Loggia at the Uffizi will be done: ok from MiBACT

Finally, after more than two decades, the troubled affair of the Isozaki Loggia, the monumental exit of the Uffizi Gallery, designed in 1999 by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki (Oita, 1931), one of the world’s most illustrious, winner of a Golden Lion for architecture in 1996 and the Pritzker Price in 2019, comes to a conclusion in Florence. The Loggia is one of the major construction sites approved today by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage as part of the strategic plan "Grandi Progetti Beni Culturali," eleven interventions financed by MiBACT with 103 million euros: these include Isozaki’s Loggia, for which 12 million euros have been allocated.

The long-running affair had started in 1998, with the competition announced by the ministry and in which some of the greatest architects active in the world at the time had participated (including Gae Aulenti, Mario Botta, Norman Foster, Vittorio Gregotti, and Hans Hollein). The winning project was the one proposed by Arata Isozaki and his Italian associate Andrea Maffei (Modena, 1998), who envisioned, for the exit of the Uffizi, a large steel and stone loggia that would echo the Loggia dei Lanzi, which is located in Piazza della Signoria, not far from the Uffizi entrance. Initially, the work was expected to be completed by 2003, but it was never finished, due to delays of various kinds, which were also due to the numerous controversies that arose around the work: an affair that had even led, in 2013, the then director of the Uffizi, Antonio Natali, to speak of a “shameful” episode, given that fourteen years had passed then without a conclusion being reached.

The satisfaction is therefore palpable: that Isozaki’s Loggia would be completed was news that had been in the air for some months, but only today did the official announcement come. Uffizi Director Eike Schmidt is beaming: “Isozaki’s loggia will be done,” he said. “The decision has been finally made and sealed with the allocation of the necessary funds to realize it. We are thus entering the last phase of work on the Grand Uffizi. Heartfelt thanks to Minister Franceschini for resolving this more than 20-year affair in the best possible way.”

“Today is a great day,” commented Florence Mayor Dario Nardella. “The Isozaki Loggia, which has been talked about for years, will be financed and built.” He adds, “With the realization of the loggia destined for the exit of the Uffizi Gallery we unlock the last major obstacle to Florence’s prominence in contemporary creativity. I am sure that Master Isozaki, one of the great undisputed living architects, will rejoice in knowing that his work will see the light of day.”

Pictured: the design of Isozaki’s Loggia

Finally. After more than two decades, the Isozaki Loggia at the Uffizi will be done: ok from MiBACT

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