Florence Theatre Conversion with Suspended Pool Lists for €13.5m

A €13.5m Florence home carved from a 19th-century theatre's fly loft is on the market for the first time — complete with a glass-bottomed swimming pool suspended above the living space.

Architect Stefano Tozzi of AE5 Partners discovered the property in 2015 in the Santo Spirito district. The space retains its original monumental masonry walls, a spectacular brick arch, and architectural elements that date back even earlier than the theatre itself. Savills is handling the sale.

Why is the house called the Fly Loft?

The name comes directly from the building's former function: the volume was the fly loft of a 19th-century theatre, the void above the stage where scenery was hoisted. According to Savills, Tozzi was originally searching for a property with a city view, but his estate agent insisted he look at this primarily top-lit space.

He then spent six years converting the interior into a family home, playing with the original form language while extending the sense of scale and drama. After living there with his family, Tozzi's yearning for a view has prompted the sale.

What does the interior contain?

The residence spans 600 sqm across three levels, organised vertically:

• Lower level: kitchen adjoining a dining niche, separated by freestanding custom cabinets, plus the living area set beneath the original brick arch.
• Central level: the suspended glass-bottomed swimming pool, which allows light to filter down from the roof lights to the level below.
• Upper levels: bedrooms and bathrooms in lofty perches in the eaves, plus a bar and cinema lounge on the topmost floor.

First impressions are dominated by the 13m ceiling height. The brick arch is mirrored by a ribbed timber form that serves as a divider on the lower level.

Which materials did Tozzi use?

A winding teak staircase connects all three levels, threading through the original arch and its wooden counterpart in what the listing describes as dramatic, Piranesian imagery. Finishes include walnut, Calacatta marble and translucent polycarbonate panels that filter light and shadow through the interior.

The primary bedroom suite has direct access to the pool and its own private fitness area with a Turkish bath. A vertical garden installation sends greenery cascading down the interior. The property also includes guest rooms, an independent annexe, a private parking garage and a modest urban patio.

What happens next?

The Fly Loft now enters the open market for the first time since its completion, priced at €13.5m through Savills — a test of how much buyers will pay for theatrical volume, listed finishes and a Santo Spirito address in one of Florence's most desirable areas.