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Natural Stone Portal and Oak Embrace in a Vineyard Tasting Room

Authors:
Katie Donahue, Katharina Hoerath, Marina gabriela Brink
Natural Stone Portal and Oak Embrace in a Vineyard Tasting Room

Project in-detail

A deep natural stone portal welcomes visitors into a harmonious space defined by oak wood and expansive views of the vineyard, creating an engaging environment for wine tasting.
5 key facts about this project
01
Deep natural stone portal connects interior and exterior spaces.
02
Oak wood elements enhance warmth and sensory experience.
03
Strategic sightlines frame vineyard views, enriching the tasting journey.
04
Cantilevered balcony invites direct engagement with the landscape.
05
Carefully designed procession promotes anticipation and immersion.

The wine tasting room is located in a beautiful vineyard landscape, designed to connect visitors with the natural world. This place embodies the idea of "architectural terroir," where the building rises from the ground, representing the process of wine growth. The design focuses on creating an engaging experience for visitors, allowing them to fully appreciate the elements of wine and its environment.

Design Concept

The main idea of the design is to highlight the relationship between the earth and sky. Visitors follow a carefully planned path that leads them to the tasting room, enhancing their anticipation for the wine tasting. This journey through the site prepares guests, bridging the gap between nature and the structured space dedicated to enjoying wine.

Spatial Organization

Inside the tasting room, the layout follows the concept of a "viewfinder," capturing key scenes of the vineyard and connecting the indoor and outdoor spaces. As visitors enter, they walk through a deep portal made from natural stone, which adds a strong visual focus and directs attention to the large glass walls that showcase the vineyard views. The combination of these elements creates a space that encourages exploration and enjoyment of the wines.

Materiality and Texture

The choice of materials is important to the overall feel and theme of the design. The natural stone at the entrance gives a tactile link to the land, while oak wood inside adds warmth and welcomes visitors. These materials not only shape the building’s appearance but also resonate with the processes involved in both architecture and winemaking, emphasizing a connection to the ground.

Light and Environment

Natural light plays a key role in the experience, with windows placed to maximize brightness during the day. An intimate cantilevered balcony extends from the building, allowing guests to connect with the vineyard views directly. This thoughtful approach to light and space enhances the visitors’ relationship with the wine and deepens their understanding of where it comes from.

Additionally, the layout includes communal areas that encourage social interaction among guests. By balancing private and shared spaces, the design fosters both individual reflection and group engagement. These thoughtful details help create a richer experience, highlighting the connection between visitors and the wine they are tasting.

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MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

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Competition organisers

The MICROHOME 10 competition invites participants to submit visionary designs for off-grid, modular microhomes that push the limits of sustainable, small-scale living. Organised by Buildner in partnership with Kingspan and Hapi Homes, this tenth edition sets the challenge of designing a dwelling for two people within a maximum floor area of 25 m², encouraging bold solutions adaptable to any urban or rural location. The competition continues Buildner’s mission to foster innovative approaches to compact, energy-efficient housing that can address pressing global challenges.

This year’s edition offers a generous total prize fund of €100,000, including the Kingspan Award for designs that integrate high-performance Kingspan products and the Hapi Homes Award for a project selected for real-world construction. In addition to cash prizes, the winners gain international exposure through Buildner’s media partnerships, publications, and a dedicated MICROHOME magazine, further amplifying their ideas to the wider architectural community.

Key dates for MICROHOME 10 include the closing date for registration on 25 September 2025, the submission deadline on 29 October 2025 (11:59 p.m. London time), and the announcement of winners on 9 December 2025. These milestones ensure participants have clear timelines to develop and present their concepts, with early registration discounts available to support students and emerging designers worldwide.

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
Final registration deadline 25 September 2025

Enter an open architecture
competition now

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