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CHYBIK+KRISTOF’s Lahofer Winery reminisces traditional Czech wine cellars

Settled in the Moravian countryside, CHYBIK + KRISTOF has designed a winery that is rooted in cultural heritage and honours the region’s everlasting wine tradition.

by STIRworldPublished on : Sep 03, 2020

The Lahofer Winery designed by architecture and urban design practice CHYBIK+KRISTOF has finished construction in the Moravian countryside of the Czech Republic. The contemporary design celebrates the region’s deep-rooted wine tradition through spaces that share a concern for nature - a modern wine-making facility, an administrative base and a visitor centre with a connecting tasting room.

Lahofer Winery sits adjoining a vast field of vine rows | Lahofer Winery by CHYBIK + KRISTOF | STIRworld
Lahofer Winery sits adjoining a vast field of vine rows Image: Laurian Ghinitoiu

The project finds its motivation in the legacy of Lahofer Winery - rooted in cultural heritage and deep respect for the natural environment. CHYBIK+KRISTOF’s design is nostalgic of the archetypal Czech arched wine cellars, responding to the architectural history and topography of the region. The design blends the region's wine culture with a modern structure in harmony with Moravia’s vine-laden surroundings.

  • The three spaces that make up the structure gradually descend into each other | Lahofer Winery by CHYBIK + KRISTOF | STIRworld
    The three spaces that make up the structure gradually descend into each other Image: Courtesy of CHYBIK + KRISTOF
  • Site plan of Lahofer Winery | Lahofer Winery by CHYBIK + KRISTOF | STIRworld
    Site plan of Lahofer Winery by CHYBIK + KRISTOF Image: Courtesy of CHYBIK + KRISTOF
  • Sectional view of Lahofer Winery | Lahofer Winery by CHYBIK + KRISTOF | STIRworld
    Sectional view of Lahofer Winery by CHYBIK + KRISTOF Image: Courtesy of CHYBIK + KRISTOF

Illustrating the concept, founding architects Ondřej Chybík and Michal Krištof explain, “The design of the Lahofer Winery is deeply rooted in nature, and in the respect thereof. At a time when culture and nature appear to be antagonistic forces, we envision a space reflective of the longstanding symbiosis between the two in the region – one that profoundly respects the environment on which it rests”.  

The design of Lahofer Winery is nostalgic of traditional Czech wine cellars | Lahofer Winery by CHYBIK + KRISTOF | STIRworld
The design of Lahofer Winery is nostalgic of traditional Czech wine cellars Image: Courtesy of Alex Shoots Buildings

Taking cues from traditional wine cellars, the vault of the winery rests on a colonnade of beams that outlines the interior space into its storied curve. Echoing this shape, an undulant roof fuses into the winery in the ground, allowing visitors to use it as an open-air amphitheatre for cultural events.

The undulant roof merges into the winery in the ground | Lahofer Winery by CHYBIK + KRISTOF | STIRworld
The undulant roof merges into the winery in the ground Image: Courtesy of Alex Shoots Buildings

Beneath the concave roof, the winery opens into a broad cellar canopied by exposed reinforced concrete arches. The arches were exclusively designed to fit a specific angle of the ceiling and are spaced in proportion to the distance between the vine rows. Each module emerges from a vine row and runs through the space, leading the viewer’s gaze across the grapevines while realising perfect symmetry.

Spaces are canopied by exposed reinforced concrete arches | Lahofer Winery by CHYBIK + KRISTOF | STIRworld
Spaces are canopied by exposed reinforced concrete arches Image: Laurian Ghinitoiu

The visitor centre beckons guests to thoroughly experience the produce in a tasting room and a barrique cellar made of wood, concrete and glass. Separated by a glass facade from the outdoor vine rows, the south-facing visitor centre brings in plenty of natural light. A grand mural by Czech contemporary artist Patrik Hábl enriches the entire ceiling, its irregular red and black spokes mimicking the variation of the fertile soil of the region.

The arches are spaced in proportion to the distance between the vine rows | Lahofer Winery by CHYBIK + KRISTOF | STIRworld
The arches are spaced in proportion to the distance between the vine rows Image: Courtesy of Alex Shoots Buildings

The structure extends its material palette into two halls of distinct heights, each catering to specific productions. Processes such as the wine-making production and employee facilities are carried out in the first lower hall. The second hall centralises operations that require low temperatures like the winepress, the cellar and the wine store.

Processes such as wine-making are carried out in the lower halls | Lahofer Winery by CHYBIK + KRISTOF | STIRworld
Processes such as wine-making are carried out in the lower halls Image: Laurian Ghinitoiu

Emulating the landscape, the varied heights of the interior spaces create corresponding functional exterior courtyards, one that serves as an operational area, centralising logistic and production presses; and another that contains the amphitheatre, reaching out to ample views of the terrain.

The amphitheatre on the roof hosts cultural events and performances | Lahofer Winery by CHYBIK + KRISTOF | STIRworld
The amphitheatre on the roof hosts cultural events and performances Image: Laurian Ghinitoiu

The amphitheatre on the vast roof reorients the functional production complex into a site to encounter local culture and history. Surfacing from the rhythmic vines, the open community space hosts cultural events including local grape harvest celebrations and theatre performances, enabling wine connoisseurs to connect over the rich, historical landscape.

The open-air cultural space allows visitors to connect over the rich landscape | Lahofer Winery by CHYBIK + KRISTOF | STIRworld
The open-air cultural space at Lahofer Winery allows visitors to connect over the rich landscape Image: Laurian Ghinitoiu

Project Details

Name: Lahofer Winery
Client: Lahofer Winery
Location: Dobšice, Czech Republic
Year: 2015
Completion: Spring 2020
Size: 3900 m2 (Ground floor area)
Status: Building Site
Team: Ondrej Chybik, Michal Kristof, Adam Jung, Lenka Vorechovska, Hanin Al-Gibury, Karolina Holankova, Martin Holy, Vojtech Kouril, Ondrej Mundl, Matej Strba, Zuzana Zathurecka, Zuzana Pelikanova, Victor Cojocaru, Laura Emilija Druktenytė, Zuzana Lisonova, Gabriela Volakova

(Text by Ankitha Gattupalli, intern at stirworld.com)

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