In the heart of Florence’s Santa Maria Novella district, one minute away from the piazza and its eponymous church, Palazzo Ottaviani debuts as the first apartments of the Lungarno Collection. Brought to life by the San Giuliano family and designed by the Florence-born, internationally acclaimed studio Luigi Fragola Architects, the project breathes new life into a rationalist 1950s palazzo, once home to the storied Ariston cinema. Today it has been reimagined as ten luminous, exquisitely appointed residences, drawn up with smart, timeless and contemporary aesthetics inspired by the clean lines of 1940s rationalism. Each room has its own bathroom and kitchen and varies from a one-bedroom to a three bedroom apartment. Interiors are layered with travertine, deep blue velvets, Rubelli fabrics, custom furnishings, and large-scale artworks created by local artists. There’s a subtle homage to Italian modernism, especially Giovanni Michelucci’s iconic nearby train station, that runs throughout, from marble portals to golden accents and curvy windows. Lui At the pinnacle: a Rooftop Penthouse, complete with a 130-square-metre terrace and a bespoke marble painting of a peacock, the palazzo’s emblem, by Mexican artist Esteban Fuentes de Maria.