walls formed from massive stone blocks
In the Côtes de Provence region near the Mediterranean coast there is a winery with facades made from giant stone blocks that create magnificent walls. The stone blocks weigh one-tonne each and are staggered in places to allow the light to seep in.
The building was designed by the Paris based architect, Carl Fredrik Svenstedt, who wanted to capture the rich heritage of the area through the use of stone extracted from local roman-era quarries.
“Building in stone implies carving a mountain, the result imposing and profound, creating a presence with self-evident materiality,” said the architects.
The visitor centre and winery itself are embedded in the hillside to try and obtain a constant internal temperature that is optimal for the process of wine-making. Its two enormous stone walls are situated parallel to the terraced vineyards, with one of them curving to enhance the feeling of dynamism that mirrors the movements of the cars passing on the road nearby.
“The massive walls frame the wine making process, sheltering the wine, work and visitors,” the architects said. “The walls are both imposing and light, shifting as needed to become porous screens, providing views, access and ventilation.”
The end facade near the entrance makes up a row of columns that allow glimpses of the interior through the gaps between. From indoors, these gaps create splendid frames for to view across the vineyards outside.
The structure is brilliantly designed and successfully combines beauty with practicality yet still manages to keep a close connection to the rich heritage of the surrounding area.
