Kolby Winery / ORA

Architects: ORA (Originální Regionální Architektura)
Year: 2022
Photography: BoysPlayNice
Construction Consultant: Projekce 21
Landscape Architects: Atelier Partero
Building Contractor: PS Brno
Interior Contractor: Creatisa design
Project Management: K4
City: Pouzdřany
Country: Czech Republic

Kolby Winery, designed by ORA in Pouzdřany, transformed to embrace natural practices and respect for the landscape. Completed in 2022, this project revitalized the winery’s facilities, adding a wine bottle warehouse and a wine bar, while unifying historic and modern structures into a cohesive whole.

The project focuses on completing and unifying the architecture of Kolby Winery in Pouzdřany. Under new ownership, the winery’s philosophy now embraces natural practices and respect for the surrounding landscape. This transformation is reflected in the rejuvenation of the winery’s facilities.

The site consisted of a historic building with extensive cellars and a modern extension from 2016. The project aimed to add a wine bottle warehouse and a wine bar for visitors.

Given the recent transformation, extensive modifications or demolitions were not feasible. However, revitalizing the existing buildings and operational connections was necessary to meet the winery’s current needs. The primary challenge was to unify the individual buildings, spaces, and moments into a cohesive whole.

The architects chose to envelop the individual extensions with a curtain wall constructed from acacia slats. The façade has two layers: an outer sparse trellis supporting climbing plants and an inner dense lattice that sometimes slides down to create benches. The acacia trellis provides shade for wine tasting. Locally sourced acacia, known for its durability, was selected to ensure the structure’s longevity.

The wine bottle warehouse is the most significant architectural addition. This utilitarian precast concrete building is partially submerged into the ground, and the excavated earth is placed alongside the hall to reduce its volume visually. The concrete is tinted with an earthy hue. A double-skin vegetated façade provides shade and enhances thermal stability. Photovoltaic panels on the roofs contribute to the winery’s sustainability.

The wine bar occupies the historic winery building and connects directly to the extensive cellars. Rather than a traditional bar, a massive tasting table in the center of the space encourages visitors to stand and engage in discussions while sampling wines. The custom-designed burgundy-colored cement tiles with a wave pattern are a prominent interior feature. Aside from the wine bar and its layout modifications, the only alteration was repainting the old building in a restrained shade with a lively texture.

Situated on the village’s outskirts, adjacent to the Pouzdřanská Steppe, a representative paved forecourt was designed to face the village. This space serves the wine bar’s requirements and accommodates various public events. An existing distinctive steel beam structure was retained and clad with acacia slats to integrate it into the overall design, utilizing the shade it provides.