UB is like living in a moodboard
Some days ago I was in Florence, a bit upset about the fact that for the very first time this year I won’t be able to cover the Pitti events, due to previous job committments. My friend Fabrizio made my day by suggesting to go and have a look to UB, a new store which started its activity just last november, and which I had never been to. I was totally unprepared to what I saw and I didn’t have my Nikon on me, that’s why I had to take pics with my cell phone… so I apologize for the poor quality of the pictures!
UB is much more than a shop: really, it’s like being in another dimension, like living in a moodboard. The structure itself of the shop is unique: a tiny entrance leads you in a 300sqm space all made of almost labyrinthic rooms, connected by wooden stairs, narrow corridors, all around a marvellous renaissance style courtyard, that will be perfect to host any kind of events.
In UB you’ll find forgotten things from the past, that have in common only the fact to be beautiful. I spoke to Ubaldo, owner of UB, and also had the chance to meet his friends Valentina and Laura of the brand Ratafià, which features lovely hand embroidered felt necklaces (I got myself one!!) and handmade scarves imported from Ethiopia that Valentina paints with beautiful patterns, florals or inspired by art deco and Sonia Delaunay.
Ubaldo, this space is so inspiring. How did you come to this idea?
“We thought about something that was missing in Florence, and we wanted to follow our inspiration creating something we love. After a long search for a right location, we accidentally knew about this old shop right in the heart of the city. It was a wallpaper shop and you can’t imagine how it was before we entered here. There was a sort of jungle in the courtyard. And dust everywhere… the old owners used only the small room on the front as a shop, all the space in the back was a huge stock room. We had a lot to work to get this result, but in the end we are so happy, and we also decided to keep a precious trace of the past of this place by creating the Room of the Rolls, which is entirely packed with wallpaper rolls dating from 1967 to now. An incredible archive but also an evocative and magic room, that was already booked for a fashion shooting!
Incredible… and now what will you do here?
The everyday activity of UB is recovering old pieces of furniture and give them new life; we transform them in something different yet we let them communicate through their backgrounds. Then we also sell other kind of articrafts, both furniture and Ratafià pieces. But we want UB to become the perfect space for shows, events, parties, concerts, performances… we already met a lot of interest because of the unique nature of our space.
Really? Did you host any events lately?
Yes, we had EquiLibri, the exhibit of auto portraits of the photographer Serena Gallorini, a no alcohol party with only bio herbal teas, where all the guests had to bring their tea cups… over 150 people came, it was a success! Then an event for FFF magazine (Firenze Fast Forward) and also the presentation of a young fashion brand, Entercoins, during Pitti Uomo.
What else to say, it was great to know such people and to know a hidden magic place like this.
UB Firenze
Via dei Conti 4R
50123 Firenze
tel. 055 214884 - info@ubfirenze.it
Ariko
