In 2009, IB Studio Architects began developing a project for a private client for a new building in one of Italy's most spectacular landscapes. After more than six years, IB studio has finally obtained all the permits to build it.
New Chianti Wineries in Tuscany. Aesthetics + Functionality integrate with the Landscape
Emerging from an enchanting hill that opens onto the surrounding vineyards, IB Studio Architects' project blends harmoniously with the aesthetics of the Tuscan landscape, sharing its mysticism
In the meantime, the studio had to adapt the concept to a complex and demanding set of bureaucratic rules, often at odds with aesthetic and functional principles.
Despite this challenge, the determination of the studio and the quality of the proposed project have finally won and the project has been authorized. The project was awarded a Silver Prize by The American Architecture Prize in 2016. For IB Studio Architects it was a long and silent dream come true.
The winery hosts the entire wine production cycle, from the grapes to the bottle of Chianti Classico. The new building houses harvesting, fermentation, aging, squeezing and filtration areas, storage, packaging, tasting and sales, as well as technical and service areas and a warehouse for agricultural machinery.
The main façade was chosen to reflect the unique topography of the site: an arched stone wall that runs along the existing ground levels, with an elevated path at the top. The wall is divided into five parts to embrace the natural development of the hill, growing from the lower level and ending within the hill on its higher level. Different walkways help visitors stroll through the surrounding landscape from different perspectives and all end up in a hidden garden that houses a glass pavilion for tasting and selling areas. The only view over the vineyards is framed by three arches. Additional external paths connect the entrances of the building with the existing agricultural paths, providing flexibility to the activity of the workers.
The garden is the result of two simple architectural touches: the arched wall and the underground production areas that is mostly on one floor, as both its purpose and the topography requires.The main materials are white cement, traditional local stones, finishes made of burnished brass and last but not least, a selection of local plants and grass in shades of purple, red and yellow. The hidden garden houses a selection of special roses and climbing plants.The concrete structure and the high-tech hydraulic and mechanical systems complete the unique combination of aesthetics and functionality of the building.
Gallery
