
The present work concerns the acoustic improvement of the Santo Stefano al Ponte church, located in the historic centre of Florence. The church has been deconsecrated since 1986 and immediately converted for cultural purposes. It is currently used as an auditorium for the Orchestra da Camera Fiorentina. The acoustic enhancement is necessary because the acoustic requirements of a concert hall differ significantly from those of a religious building.
The design process begins with on-site measurements of the acoustic parameters and their current analysis through the virtual modelling of the environment.
Subsequently, a range of possible interventions is proposed and analysed from both acoustic and architectural perspectives. Particular attention is directed toward integrating these interventions within the architectural and artistic context of the church. The evaluation process led to the design of a series of interventions, including an acoustic shell to be placed around the orchestra.