Foreword
Competition organisers
Official Partners
The Monte d’Oiro Wine Tasting Room competition is part of Bee Breeders’ Portugal design series. This particular design challenge has been organized in collaboration with Quinta Do Monte D’Oiro, a family vineyard located in the Lisbon region.
Quinta do Monte d'Oiro (‘Hill of Gold’) is a 42-hectare property with a history of wine-production dating to the 17th century. The current brand, a brainchild of José Bento dos Santos, has since the 1990s produced 100% organic Syrahs, Viogniers and Petit Verdots, imported from France, and more recently it has expanded with original labels. The Quinta do Monte d’Oiro site - with a privileged terroir, resting on clay-limestone soils and receiving Atlantic winds - is known to have conditions ideal for producing balanced, fresh wines. Quinta do Monte d’Oiro labels have been consistently awarded prizes, and are sold in regional and international markets.
For the Monte d’Oiro Wine Tasting Room competition, the vineyard is seeking design ideas for a wine tasting room, where approximately 30 people can gather around a special tasting table to enjoy the wines as well as the magnificent views of the vineyard. The 60m² space is to be open and inviting, and the program is to provide simple amenities such as running water and storage. Designs for the tasting room were requested to be considerate of the existing vineyard facilities, while at the same time capable of becoming an architectural landmark. The Quinta do Monte d’Oiro has expressed an interest in constructing the winning proposal.
The jury evaluated designs for their capacity to offer a unique space to the vineyard, and sought proposals that made use of natural materials. The received proposals experimented with a host of ideas for integrating the new project within the site. Given the elevated conditions of the existing buildings, proposals conceived of a mix of above-grade concepts as well as constructions carved into the hillside.
Bee Breeders thanks all of the participants for their time and excellent contributions to this design challenge.
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Jury feedback summary
Agreste (‘to live a rural existence’) conceives of a subtle new structure sited parallel to - yet 2.3m below - the existing buildings. Constructed of rammed-earth reinforced walls and topped with a timber-framed and landscaped roof, the rectangular form comprises four semi-circular enclosures at its corners containing support spaces. The main space features terracotta floors and is divided into a reception area and tasting area by a central hearth. A full-length wall of sliding-glass doors opens to the vineyard. The jury praises the project for its well-conceived hierarchy of spaces that is reinforced by strong relationships between solid and void. From a construction viewpoint, the landscaped rooftop assembly will likely need a more substantial structure and buildup to function successfully, but the submission is, overall, excellent.