archea associati: cantina antinori winery

‘cantina antinori’ by archea associati, san casciano val di pesa, italyimage © pietro savorelliall images courtesy of archea associati

located in the unique chianti landscape halfway between the scenic florence and siena amongst the vast fields of vineyards, the ‘cantina antinori’ winery by italian practice archea associati explores the relationship between man, a product, the site and the process of manufacture in their most essential forms. the winemaker has a very special, if not spiritual connection to the land on which his vineyards grow; there is a constant struggle to maintain quality as well as a large economical commitment to produce the best quality grape.

as a result, the winery is set into the contours of the land as two horizontal cuts made from large planes of concrete, framing views and paying homage to the site and covered with a vineyard. two atria in the planes allow views as well and bring  in light into all areas of the construction. the offices are located under ground above the wine cellar of undulating masonry walls and terracotta vaults that help maintain the ideal interior temperature for fermentation. the grapes make a journey from the top level where they are taken into the structure down the manufacturing process until reaching the barrels. visitors on the other hand begin at the barrels at the same level as the parking, and make their way up to crescendo at a panoramic space featuring a restaurant, auditorium, museum, library, wine tasting areas and the shop. circular holes cut into the canopy illuminate the caretaker’s dwelling and guest house and create a recognizable language in the project.

circular void in the canopyimage © pietro savorelli

circular stairs benefiting from the voids in the horizontal planesimage © pietro savorelli

(left) view through the voids(right) view through the exterior stairsimage © pietro savorelli

image © pietro savorelli

upper level lounge areaimage © pietro savorelli

long continuous space connects all functions with a glass wallimage © pietro savorelli

central stairs in the libraryimage © pietro savorelli

circular dome roofimage © pietro savorelli

libraryimage © pietro savorelli

stacked concrete forms provide shelfingimage © pietro savorelli

shopimage © pietro savorelli

meeting rooms in glass wallsimage © pietro savorelli

undulating terracotta walls of the basement levelsimage © pietro savorelli

image © pietro savorelli

barrel roomimage © pietro savorelli

image © pietro savorelli

image © pietro savorelli

wine production areasimage © pietro savorelli

fermentation vatsimage © pietro savorelli

roof line in the landscapeimage © pietro savorelli

vineyards sweep up to the structureimage © pietro savorelli

siteimage © pietro savorelli

image © pietro savorelli