Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the name of the wine that shares the same name as the region it is produced in—possesses a rich past and a tradition spanning centuries. The village's name translates to 'The Pope’s new castle', signalling its deep intertwining with papal history. The majestic bottles of the wine are adorned with papal keys. The wine-making process has its traditional roots, but modern techniques have started catching up. While the processes and systems have been evolving, the nature of associated identity persists. The rammed earth winery by JSPA Design is designed to be in the wine-making region of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, a village in Southeast France. The project brief aims at building a wine cellar, extending an existing winery, creating a shop, and developing new public event spaces.

The village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape is about three kilometres to the east of Rhône and 12 kilometres north of the town of Avignon. The wine is an Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) located around the village. It is one of the most renowned appellations of the southern part of the Rhône Valley. In 1309, Pope Clement V relocated the papacy from Rome to the town of Avignon. The significance of wine in Christianity and the relocation of the papacy to this region significantly boosted the growth of Viticulture in the region.

With the responsibility to be authentic to the region's history and also be a contemporary design that stands out on its own, the rammed earth construction of the building, along with its modernist form establishes a distinctive identity. A visual characteristic of rammed earth, meandering horizontal waves adorn the structure’s surface, grounding the modern form and integrating it seamlessly into the landscape. While visually striking as a consequence of contrast from its architectural context, it borrows in materiality and language from the predominantly agricultural culture of the region, reinforcing the feeling of connection with the site. The thermal and acoustic insulation properties of the building allow it to be more sustainable and functionally efficient. "The design process was guided by the idea of producing a clear reading between the existing architecture and the new extension while creating a coherent whole in terms of scale and architectural form and typology,” explains Johan Sarvan, founder of Beijing-based JSPA Design.

All the functions—the wine cellar, extended winery, shop, and event space—are dissected into four distinct volumes that revolve around a central patio. The project was designed to blend into the context in terms of scale, and hence the fragmentation allowed the building to be unimposing, integrating the architecture into the village. While the project is an extension of the existing infrastructure, It is connected only through an underground link, which juxtaposes the new and the existing without a visible connection.

One of the primary drivers of the project is its water circulation. The green roofs of the cantilever structures absorb the rainwater, directing it to the central patio pool where it is collected. The narrow slits at the contours of the patio allow excess water to drain into the underground wine cellar, reaching the lower level where it is collected in a cistern for future use. Through natural evaporation, the water tank provides the level of humidity required for proper conservation of the wine throughout the year. The thermal conditions of the space are crucial for the project since it also consists of a wine cellar, which requires careful temperature and humidity control. The cellar is located underground to benefit from the consistent temperature, and the insulative nature of rammed earth plays a crucial role in the function.

The experiential quality of the project is elevated in the way it plays with light and shadow. The natural textures of the project become a canvas for the elements to take centre stage. Natural light delicately filters into the cellar through the fine openings in the slabs, generating a sequence of light and shadow that evoke a sense of depth and mystery. “When visitors step into the cellar, they are transported into a world of sensory experiences, where the sights, sounds, and aromas of winemaking combine to create an immersive experience,” says Florent Buis, partner at JSPA Design, while explaining the intended experience for the visitor through the architecture of the Rammed Earth Winery at Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The architectural materials are a defining feature of the project and elevate the contemporary architectural experience without becoming urban in its appeal. The organic vocabulary of the architecture also appears to provide a direction to imagine the future of modern rural architecture—one that is not a watered-down version of its urban counterpart but holds onto its authenticity.

Project Details

Name: Rammed Earth Winery
Location: Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France
Area: 3400 sqm
Construction date: Beginning 2024
Architect: JSPA Design
Landscape architecture: JSPA Design