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HOUSE OF WINE

Enjoy a glass of wine (or two) after a long, hard day’s work? Us too. And we’d enjoy it much more if we got to drink it from this beautiful wine bar and tasting room in the historic town of Znojmo in the Czech Republic.

Set in a converted 19th century brewery and its adjacent technical space – a structure that was added in the 1970s – the House of Wine effortlessly highlights the region’s multifaceted architectural history.

Externally, the brewery’s classical structure has been treated like a heritage site and is retained and thoughtfully restored. Conversely, the internal space of the former technical hall has been given a lively insertion.

A playful arrangement of volumes divides the large open space into individual areas, thereby reflecting the scale and atmosphere of traditional wine cellars through the creation of smaller interconnected rooms. Curved wood-paneled volumes designed to recall traditional cellars and barrels are stacked to create intimate spaces, inviting visitors to delve into the rich history of the Moravian wine culture.

With historic chapels and churches adjacent to the block, the architects were very mindful of the town’s many architectural layers and histories and sought to reference and compliment in a sympathetic manner. Views of significant buildings as well as sweeping valley vistas are framed and celebrated through this architectural device.

House of Wine echoes the original buildings and the town’s history of transformation, while acting as a reminder of the complex interaction between the sociopolitical structures that have marked its architecture.

“The House of Wine challenges traditional notions of restoration of historical buildings,” explains founding architect Ondřej Chybik. “The presence of two distinct structures, each with its own history and original function, inspired us to adopt likewise distinct approaches to renovation. On the one hand, we adhere to a rather orthodox restoration, based on preservation; on the other hand, we embrace a more experimental – and unusual – approach which fully rethinks the initial structure. In doing so, we immerse ourselves in the town’s heritage and landscape, while establishing the House of Wine as a part, a reconciliation and a continuation of its architectural history.”

Photos by Laurian Ghinitoiu © CHYBIK + KRISTOF Architects and Urban Designers.

2021-04-07T10:59:03+10:00 February 21st, 2020|Architecture, Design, Modscape|

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