Kurdějov, Czech Republic

Commissioned by Gurdau Winery, Aleš Fiala Studio and Zdeněk Sendler design a new 1,260-square-metre winery structure that mimics the surrounding landscape and blends harmoniously into it.

The concept behind the design of the two-story was to create a wine house considered the most operationally efficient location, literally in the center of the vineyards. 

The studio has aimed to design a building that is both “purposeful and poetic,” as it steps back from the village and offers soothing and enchanting views. 

Located in the open countryside naturally brought with it high demands for architectural and landscape integration, the building’s volumetry is informed by the landscape to appear in the form of a gentle curve – a wave in the landscape, a hill between hills. 

“Great care has been taken to incorporate the building into the terrain and its connection to the cultural and natural greenery,” says Aleš Fiala.

The structure itself is comprised of reinforced concrete and has a total of two stories.

The subterranean portion is where the winemaking, aging, and archiving processes take place.

The first floor houses the tasting area, as well as dining and sales areas.

There are two flats that can be used for short-term overnight stays as needed.

The placement of the  Gurdau Winery building below ground, which is customary for wineries, belies the building’s radical modernity and ability to stand the test of time.

The ambiance of the location is built on providing an experience that is at once beautiful, refined, and completely comfortable.

The building’s organic form is supported by the use of materials that have a clean and direct appearance, such as exposed concrete, glass, metal, oak, and acacia wood.

At the same time, the highest priority is placed on precision in both the craftsmanship and the attention to detail.

Incorporating the structure into the landscape produces the impression of a warm and inviting backdrop, as well as a seamless natural integration with the environment from which the wine originates.

The terraces and the artificial slope on the green roof provide a wonderful vantage point from which to appreciate the view and the fresh air.

From these vantage points, one can take in the breathtaking panorama of the horizons of Kurdjov, the Pálava in the distance, and the plains that reach Austria.

The areas of the wine house can be rearranged to accommodate a variety of activities, including social gatherings, romantic interludes, and reflective moments of solitude with a glass of wine.

The design of the structure shows the deepest reverence for the natural environment that is all around Gurdau Winery.

After the vegetation has had time to mature, it will be practically impossible to see due to the vast curved green roof that completely encircles and covers the structure.

It has been decided to plant a variety of fresh shrubs and mature trees in the area immediately surrounding the building in order to contribute, in the long run, to the production of an ideal local microclimate.

There are also massive benefits of diverse vegetation for the microclimate as well as the quality of the wine.

Since the Gurdau Winery wine house is situated within the vineyard itself, there is significantly less need to carry both raw materials and employees throughout the winery.

Both the production sections and the consumer areas make use of passive energy sources.

The production portions are buried beneath the landscape, while the customer areas are open to the sunlight through a glass façade.

It is constructed with thermally insulating triple glazing in combination with wooden oak slats in front of the windows, a sufficient overhang of the curved roof, and shading of the pergola in front of the façade with tarpaulins to prevent overheating during the hottest summer months.

For the purpose of heating, an air-to-water heat pump is utilized. Additionally, rainwater is collected in a storage tank and used for irrigation of the vineyard.

Project: Gurdau Winery
Architects: Aleš Fiala Studio
Landscape Architect: Zdeněk Sendler
Client: Gurdau Winery
Photographers: BoysPlayNice