christian de portzamparc: chateau cheval blanc winery
‘chateau cheval blanc’ by christian de portzamparc, saint-emilion, france image © erick saillet all images courtesy of christian de portzamparc
owners of the cheval blanc winery, baron frere and bernard arnault, wanted to capture the same elegance and attention to detail that goes into their cherished product when designing their new establishment. french architect christian de portzamparc, winner of the 1994 pritzker prize, conceived of the new ‘chateau cheval blanc’ in saint-emilion. also known as ‘the winery under the hill’, the new establishment is located under a massive sweeping structure with a rooftop garden and is always visually and spatially connected to the rows of grapevines. the entirely concrete construction boasts six curvilinear load-bearing walls that flow through the program as the main support system connected by a series of crossbeams. the canopy is pulled away from the immense members creating skylights that create the opportunity for natural light to subtly find its way inside.
approach image © erick saillet
the re-purposed orangery, originally part of the chateau, now acts as the reception with a small glass enclosure connecting it to the new project that extends views towards the exterior. proceeding to the cuvier, 52 custom-made vats line the interior partitions, constituting the most expansive volume in the design. an open courtyard serves as a multipurpose area used for sorting and bottling and provides an entry sequence to the workshops, a wood-clad space used for packaging. undulating polished concrete girders held by round columns enclose the wine cellar capable of holding 566 barrels, with brick mashrabiya walls that hide the mechanical components behind. the green roof invites the user to view the revered vineyard landscape responsible for the success of the business.
context with chateau image © erick saillet
workshop image © erick saillet
workshop image © erick saillet
exterior
stairs to roof garden image © gerard uferas
exterior image © gerard uferas
multipurpose space image © erick saillet
multipurpose space image © erick saillet
tasting room image © erick saillet
cuvier image © erick saillet
vats
(left) wall structure with roof connection (right) interior cuvier with overhead walkways
cuvier image © erick saillet
work space image © erick saillet
wine cellar image © gerard uferas
reception and tasting room image © erick saillet
orangery and new structure image © erick saillet
back entry image © erick saillet
rooftop garden image © erick saillet
rooftop garden
site plan
roof plan
floor plan / level 0green: reception area red: cuvier white: mechanical/technical blue: multipurpose space yellow: workshops
floor plan / level 0
floor plan / level 1
floor plan / level -1
section
section perspective
primary structure diagram
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beautiful and interesting spaces/visuals
it
would have made things much more real to have a few people in the pictures
would have given size comparisons… a humanness
and especially up on the roof garden/deck
thank you
Absolutely beautiful!
fantástico
This is a rare example of a successful blend of architecture and sculpture……and boy, is it successful. Absolutely stunning.
I love the way this project almost defies analysis…one simply wants to surrender to its experience, and be amidst the elegant celebration of its function.
How confounding such a beautiful work must be to those who would confuse its speechless quality with the arbitrary work of \”The Formalistas\”.
Bravo Maestro
just one word
SUPERB !!!!!
congratulations christian
To the Owner: When true art is present in living and working spaces, the work transforms from merely a painful cost to a worthwhile investment to be cherished. To the Architect: Youve dramatically left your mark on the world. Sensibly, you could stop right here. To the rest of us: Shamefully, I have to throw away all my work and start over.
Superior taste congrats to the owner and designer
STUPENDO….amazing everything…congratulations!
Aside from all the patently good ways this project works, the inevitable building reg issues of undulating landscape buildings have been dealt with masterfully.
If those great flank walls were double-curved, Zaha-like, this would have diminished the work into a blob. The result here is Utzon-like.
Sensational d’-!) A vision of the traditional meeting modern in a homogenous blend so pleasing to the eye. Congratulations Christian on such a sensitive, pragmatic creation. The only thing missing photowise, was a photo taken from the roof garden over the traditional. Wow d’-)
W-o -o-o-o-o-o-o-o-w ! BRAVO!
The table is very original designed like the waves-sculpture of the building: congrates to make architecture so beautiful!
Grace in motion.
An architectural expression infused with poetry, presence and panache.
Is it because of my computer, or the website \”christian de portzamparc\” isn\’t just working ?
are you all kidding?
superb mindblowing