La
Grajera Winery, located on a small hill overlooking the lake and vineyards in
La Rioja region of Spain, appears as a modest structure hidden among the pine
trees. Virai Arquitectos, which designed a building in harmony with nature and
waiting to be discovered instead of a magnificent structure, brought together
different elements such as wine production, research, sales and institute in
this complex. The building, which follows a calm and modern design approach by
aiming to adapt to the landscape, avoids overshading the view and imitating it.
The mass settlement extending towards the landscape also respects the land and
the existing trees. In the project where the use of natural stone is very
important, the semi-buried volume where the wine production section is located
has become part of the land by being covered with locally sourced sandstone. In
the building, where rural methods are used in stonework, the choice of
materials in the interior is in favor of black slate to create a special and
secret atmosphere. The roof of this volume, covered with green vegetation,
redefines the boundaries of the land, while the other area, which has corporate
functions with a long body, opens to the landscape with its glass and ceramic
facade. The third mass, which includes administrative units, creates the
western border of the building, as well as providing pedestrian access to
various masses with the square created in front of it. The presence of
entrances from different levels strengthens the structure’s relationship with
the slope, but also facilitates the service entrances and exits in access to
the cellar. While the production and cellar are downstairs, the corporate and
sales department is upstairs. Thus, the cellar provides the proper temperature
under the ground, while the corporate and sales division relates to the
landscape. The space relations of the building aims to include visitors from
beginning to end in the production process by allowing the visit and wine
production functions to be combined simultaneously. Starting with the place
where the wine barrels are exhibited, the visitor tour route continues in the
tasting room with a view of the vineyards and continues towards the cellar on
the lower floor. This relationship, followed in the settlement, is based on the
wine’s production story: the visitor, from the vineyards, light and scenery; it
slowly moves into the underworld, in a quiet, cool and dark area where grapes
turn into wines. The upper floor, surrounded by natural light and scenery, is
designed as a venue that hosts conferences, talks and presentations. Simple
bioclimatic solutions, which are common in traditional buildings, have been
used in the building. While the location of the production units and the
production and fermentation areas under the ground reduces the heating and
cooling needs of the building; The system used in the glass facade on the upper
floor provides sufficient natural light to the interior and control the light
thanks to the ceramic sun shades. The geothermal energy used in air
conditioning is used to spread the cold and hot air to the place as well as to
aging the wine.
CREDITS
Architectural Design:
Virai Arquitectos
Project Coordinators:
Juan Manuel Herranz, Marta Parra Project Team: Laila Arias, Jorge Garrudo,
Stepan Martinovsky, Teun Van Veggel, Federico Wulff, Christian Alvarez, Rodrigo
Aragón, Amaia Martinez, Jesús Aramendía, Guillermo Lacarra, Gorka Ducay, Oscar
Huarte, Roberto Urdangáriz, Cristina Pellejero, Oscar Canalejo, Jesús Ilarraza
Client: La Rioja
Municipality
Engineering:
Ingenieria Proyectos Navarra
Consultant:
Ingenieria Proyectos Navarra
Project Area: 6.900
sqm
Construction Date:
2011
Project Location:
La Rioja, Spain
Photographs: José
Manuel Cutillas, Diego Carreño and Rafael Lafuente
