The 4 Star “Glance” is one of the best examples of a design hotel in Florence. Credit must be given to the innovative architectural and stylistic decisions that the structure has undergone over the years, beginning with the initial concept for this building that now houses the hotel.
The Hotel Glance is actually situated within a historic edifice that was constructed in 1957 as a project that was undertaken by the famous architect, Italo Gamberini, one of the contributors, amongst others, of the project covering the passenger terminal at Florence’s main Station of Santa Maria Novella, the regional headquarters of RAI (the national broadcasting company) in Florence, the State Archives in Florence, the Luigi Pecci Centre of Contemporary Art and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Pisa.
The building is a truly authentic symbol of Florence because it is one of the most famous modern architectural treasures in the city.
The building was designed to replace existing buildings and was part of an extensive redevelopment plan for the Via Nazionale.
It is one of the best examples of the incorporation of modern architecture in a historical context. The importance and the physical dimensions of the work bear testament to the interest that was paramount at the time as a consequence of the most detailed and rigorous evaluations which resulted in the design team winning the In / Arch award. This was awarded to the architect Gamberini in 1963, together with the client, the construction company and the manufacturer of the external fixtures such as the window frames.
The most obvious and singular feature of the building is the form and technological quality of the window openings with their views over the Via Nazionale.
The level of detail, the material design and the naturalness of their juxtaposition really do stand out. In fact, there is a harmonious co-existence between the aluminium frames, the reinforced concrete structure, the glass block guttering, ceramic coating and plaster finishes. The same style is carried through to the interior of the building, especially in the stairwell. Here, the combined use of iron and glass panels is offset against glass thermolux windows. There are a series of bold but winning architectural and stylistic choices that have been made which further typify the building and the hotel itself.
All this, combined with meticulous attention to detail, the iconic reworking of famous Renaissance sculptures on each floor, the design choices in terms of furnishings, the originality and versatility of the communal spaces, make the “Glance” the definitive modern hotel in which to stay in Florence.
