This exceptional property is on the market with John Taylor Tuscany, a leader in luxury real estate. Price is disclosed upon application with the listing agency.

“People don’t just enter a house—they step into a work of art,” says Stefano Tozzi, a Florentine architect with a distinguished career that includes experience in renowned international studios like Natalini and Arata Isozaki, as well as collaborations with celebrated architects Daniel Libeskind and Zaha Hadid.

Tozzi, the co-founder of the design and architecture firm AE5 Partners, with offices in Florence, Tokyo, and Kanazawa, returned to Italy in search of a property in Florence. What he found near Piazza Santo Spirito was a genuine blank canvas: the scenic tower of a 19th-century theater, later repurposed as a sawmill.

At first glance, the space was, in Tozzi’s words, “horrible.” But its soaring 40-foot (13-meter) height sparked his imagination. Over the course of 1,400 meticulously crafted drawings, Tozzi envisioned a space where art and architecture converge—a residence inspired by the organic spontaneity of Tuscany’s historic centers, using mezzanines to break up the vertical space, connected by a serpentine staircase.

The centerpiece is a 20-ton transparent-bottom pool, inspired by the Molitor Piscine scene from Ang Lee’s Life of Pi. Suspended above the living area, it filters light to create mesmerizing patterns below. It's supported by the theater’s original arches which have been reshaped into a circle with a sculptural wooden arch.

“As I stood there, an image from the film Life of Pi suddenly came to mind. I thought of the scene where the protagonist’s uncle is in a public swimming pool. At one point, he dives in, and the camera captures him swimming slowly through the clouds. I lingered on that image for a while and then suddenly said to myself, “I need to create a pool in this space—a suspended pool that allows light to reach the ground.” It would act as a second window, a secondary skylight that complements the roof opening while also serving as an evocative and poetic feature within this space.”
Stefano Tozzi Architetto, written, directed and edited by Veronica Citi (Video)

Unlike traditional construction projects, this home was built almost entirely by hand. Assisted only by a retired craftsman friend, Tozzi dismissed conventional construction teams, relying on basic tools like a 1960s miter saw and a manual plane to craft every detail.

The result is a home that reflects Tozzi’s artistic vision and passion for precision. Its self-supporting steel staircase, clad in solid teak, winds through the home’s three levels and embodies the modular principles that define Tozzi’s work.

Walls clad in polycarbonate honeycomb panels lend a modern aesthetic, while the warm tones of teak dominate the interiors. The dining table, crafted from walnut Canaletto and topped with Calacatta marble, slides open to reveal a hidden sink, seamlessly merging functionality with elegance.

Every detail, from sliding doors to cutlery drawers, adheres to a precise modular scale of one meter and one millimeter. “The fewer materials I use, the harder it is to make mistakes,” Tozzi notes, highlighting his commitment to simplicity and harmony.

This one-of-a-kind residence offers more than just luxurious living—it provides an immersive sensory experience. The living room’s triple-height volume draws the eye upward, while light filtered through the pool creates a dynamic interplay of water and air.

The master suite includes a freestanding bathtub, a private gym, a Turkish bath, and overlooks the indoor pool and a vertical outdoor garden—a rare feature in Florence’s historic center.

Complete with custom furnishings from top design brands like CEA Design and Gaggenau, this residence stands as a testament to contemporary architecture. Tozzi has transformed a forgotten theater into not just a home, but a living masterpiece that seamlessly merges history, design, and craftsmanship.