The Lahofer Winery in Dobšice, Czech Republic, is one of the largest wine producers in that country, covering over 430 hectares and producing half a million bottles a year.
The dramatic wave-like form of the winery’s new building was inspired by the Moravian region’s topography, and appears, according to the design magazine, Curiel, “to merge with it; the hill of the roof curves over the winery’s facilities as if a continuation of the surrounding slopes, while the concave space provides room for an open-air amphitheatre, and its underside, containing the visitor centre, is revealed by a glazed colonnade of arches.”
These reinforced concrete arches were individually designed to fit a specific angle of the ceiling, while the distance between them was determined by the space between the adjacent vine rows outside.
The visitor centre and the adjoining tasting room look out over the barrique cellar, made of wood, concrete and glass. A large-scale mural painting by Czech contemporary artist Patrik Hábl covers the entire ceiling area.
The ultra-modern structure houses the production areas in two halls of distinct heights, each mirroring a specific process. The first, lower hall centralises the operations, including wine-making production and employee facilities; while the second allows for operations that require cooler temperatures, such as the wine press, the cellar, and the wine store.
One courtyard serves as the operational area, (grape reception and presses), the other houses the amphitheater which acts as a community space, dedicated to cultural events, including local grape harvest celebrations and theatrical performances.
