Winery Château Faugères, St.Emilion, France, 2005-2009

Project: 2005
Construction: 2007-2009
Partner: arch. Serge Lansalot, agency Epure, Libourne, France
Client: Sarl Château Faugères
Site area: 32'625 m²
Useful surface: 3'500 m²

Situated atop the undulating hills near Saint Emilion, in the Bordeaux area, swathes of vineyards open out to the visitor in neat rows of vines rooted in the furrowed surfaces of the earth. Characterized by formal simplicity, the construction presents a big partly underground stone base. On the ground floor there is the area for the treading of the grapes, while on the underground levels there are the areas for the production and the ageing of wine. A tower, characterized by a regular pattern of openings, rises up in the centre of the building. It houses the administrative services and a cosy space for wine-tasting. At the top, a covered terrace oriented towards south-east overlooks the countryside. The external facade in natural yellow stone accentuates the geometric outline of the composition.