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Filtering Light Through Limestone Walls in a Vineyard Setting

Authors:
Kevin hai Pham, Nick Reddon
Filtering Light Through Limestone Walls in a Vineyard Setting

Project in-detail

Designed with limestone walls that filter natural light and enhance spatial dynamics, the structure serves as a multifunctional winery, seamlessly integrating with the vineyard landscape while promoting visitor engagement and experience.
5 key facts about this project
01
Designed to filter natural light effectively through carefully placed apertures.
02
Utilizes locally sourced limestone to create a tactile connection with the vineyard.
03
Features a rooftop garden that enhances ecological sustainability and visitor engagement.
04
Incorporates a concrete corridor that guides visitors through the wine estate experience.
05
Emphasizes spatial dynamics with a blend of enclosed and open areas for diverse interactions.
Vale-un-Veil is an architectural project located at the Quinta do Monte d'Oiro Winery, characterized by its innovative design that integrates well with its geographical surroundings, specifically the vineyard landscape. This project serves multiple functions, including wine production, tasting, and visitor education. The architectural approach is focused on enhancing the interaction between the building and its environment while preserving the essence of the site’s agricultural heritage.

The design emphasizes a linear flow that guides visitors from the urban plaza into the serene vineyard setting. The imposing structure features concrete walls and locally sourced limestone, creating a sense of enclosure that starkly contrasts the open landscape. This architectural choice allows for a filtered experience of the surroundings, invoking curiosity and promoting exploration. The project aims to establish a sensory link between the winery and its expansive vineyard, fostering a deeper connection to the local terroir.

Innovative Design Approaches

Vale-un-Veil employs an interesting blend of materials that reflect the local context while addressing functional needs. The use of concrete for structural elements ensures durability and a sculptural quality, while locally sourced limestone provides a tactile connection to the surrounding environment. This intentional materiality emphasizes a dialogue with the site rather than a separation from it.

The design incorporates numerous light wells and strategically placed openings to enhance the spatial experience. These features allow natural light to permeate the interiors, creating dynamic spaces that change with the time of day. Additionally, the rooftop garden serves not only as an amenity but also as an ecological feature that reinforces sustainability by integrating the architecture into the landscape.

Interaction between different spatial volumes complements the user experience. Visitors traverse an enclosed corridor that transitions seamlessly into the tasting and production areas, fostering a continuous relationship with the vineyard. The structure's unique form aids in directing views towards the natural landscape, promoting engagement with the vineyard landscape while maintaining functional integrity.

Exploration of Structural Elements

Critical to Vale-un-Veil’s design is its attention to detail in both form and function. The carefully crafted facade utilizes concrete and stone to create varying textures and dimensions, contributing to the overall aesthetic without compromising structural performance. Each function, from production areas to tasting rooms, has been distinctly defined while maintaining spatial fluidity.

Further, the relationship between the building and its landscape is emphasized through landscaping and the arrangement of outdoor spaces, inviting visitors to extend their experience beyond the walls of the winery. This duality of built and natural environments is a core characteristic of the design, unraveling the cultural context while providing an innovative approach to winery architecture.

Exploring the architectural plans, sections, designs, and ideas within this project can provide a deeper understanding of its complexities and nuances. For those interested in architectural details, consider reviewing how these elements coalesce to create a functional yet aesthetically cohesive winery experience.
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MICROHOME
MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
Kinderspace
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Architecture for Children’s Development #3
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025

Design a new small-scale home concept in the 10th edition of MICROHOME — 100,000 € prize + construction

Competition organisers

The 10th edition of the MICROHOME architecture competition invites architects and designers from around the world to explore the possibilities of compact, sustainable living. Hosted by Buildner in collaboration with Kingspan and Hapi Homes, this special edition challenges participants to design an off-grid, modular microhome for a young professional couple, with a maximum floor area of 25 m². Designs should prioritize innovation, efficiency, and real-world feasibility. 

A total prize fund of 100,000 € will be awarded, including three main prizes, the Kingspan Award, and the Hapi Homes Award, which will grant 15,000 € and lead to the construction of the selected design. The final registration deadline is September 25, 2025, and winners will be announced on Decebmer 9, 2025. For full competition details and submission guidelines, visit microhome.info.

Microhome

Design a new small-scale home concept in the 10th edition of MICROHOME — 100,000 € prize + construction

100,000 € PRIZE FUND / KINGPSAN EDITION #10 IDEAS COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 € + Potential realisation
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 22 May 2025
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