RE-Dama Hostel Florence transforms a 1970s former female dorm into a capsule-like tower of light, concrete, and minimal furnishings, where preserved details and material traces shape a living, evolving hospitality space.
The intervention focused on selective dismantling and rediscovery of sophisticated reinforced concrete structures and façade boxes, preserving elements that define the hostel’s character. Common areas were reorganised by reversing the entrance and removing all non-structural elements. Spaces are articulated around material blocks: mirrored offices, birch bathrooms, and a dark green reception and breakfast counter. Two glazed volumes define study and meeting zones, while new openings in the slab introduce a staircase and light well. Concrete structures were cleaned and treated with a rough, tactile finish, with windows installed flush to maximise natural light. The 69 rooms across four upper floors feature terraces and private bathrooms, arranged as corner singles, bunk rooms, doubles, or quadruples with double platforms. Furniture is minimal, made from plywood panels, metal tubing anchored between floor and ceiling, and laminated panels matching wall colours. Simple materials and artisanal workmanship reveal codes, traces, and microcement repairs as visible marks of construction. Technical elements are housed in perforated metal boxes, creating subtle transparency. Clay pots planted with greenery gradually colonise terraces and interiors, softening the architecture and animating the hostel over time.