A state-of-the art, highly sustainable winery set in a spectacular landscape has been designed by the architect of the 2014 Serpentine Pavilion, Smiljan Radic, in association with Loreto Lyon. Largely buried underground to have minimal impact on its surroundings, it features a transparent, stretched fabric roof that allows natural sunlight to permeate so that the processing of the grapes can be done without artificial lighting.
The winery is located in an 11,000 acre estate in the Millahue or Place of Gold valley in Chile, two hours’ drive from Santiago, with the Andes visible in the distance. It is one of a number of estates that are being developed both as producers of fine wines and exclusive tourist destinations.
The building is approached via a two-degree sloping plaza of water crossed with walkways and dotted with an installation of rocks and boulders by Radic and sculptor Marcela Correa.
Running water streaming over the plaza provides an additional cooling element to the winery. Using the natural thermal amplitude of the valley, the underground chamber maintains a consistent temperature of 57 degrees fahrenheit
The primary architectural element seen from above ground is the extensive fabric roof. Within, on the lower level of the fermentation hall, touring visitors see a distant wall flooded with natural light and can gaze down a long colonnade of inclined lit columns, through the malolactic barrel cellar into the tasting room where daylight highlights an ‘altar’ of wine . A glass pavilion fronting the plaza provides a dining and wine purchasing area.
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