Esterházy Etyeki Kúria Winery - Hungarian architecture

The new edifice with its spacious, state of the art plant and attractive wine tasting areas provides worthy space for the winery, which is one of the oldest wineries in the region of Etyek.

head architects: Péter BORDÁS - BORD Architectural Studio,
assistant architects: Róbert Benke, Annamária Holovits, Ildikó Pém, Júlia Szendrői, Tamás Tolvaj
year of design/construction: 2009/2012-2013
photography: © Tamás BUJNOVSZKY

BORD Architectural Studio was commissioned by Etyeki Kúria to design a new, modern factory and visitor’s centre, which blends well with the special atmosphere of the region and it has an iconic appearance. The site, which is situated on the picturesque slope of Öreghegy, is characterized by little, pretty pressing houses between the rows of grapes. Therefore the main concept of the design was to adjust the new building complex both to the unique manmade world and the amazing nature. The volume of the new complex integrating the existing cellar and pressing house refl ects the characteristic scale of the surrounding buildings in a new interpretation. The new masses of the winery with their various heights and dimensions are standing in line next to each other playfully like pearls of a necklace.

The gate of the new building complex is marked by an emphatic line of trees crossing the access way of the hill. Parallel with the trees a little protected entrance bay welcomes the visitors in front of the building. The vestibule of the visitor’s centre, the wine shop and the open and sunny hall of wine tasting merge with the view deck and the vineyard which embraces the building contour. The landscape is always present.

The energetic external appearance is perceptible from inside as well; the rhythmical sequence of airy and narrow spaces with different heights and proportion provides an exciting experience for the visitors. Due to the carefully arranged huge glass surfaces, the long slot lights, the open tympanums and the relationship between the different areas, sunshine permeates the whole building. Spaces for public open views to the production process of the grapes, to the bottling house and the depth of the cellar alike. As a result of playing with light, the warmth of the sun that is essential to life is perceptible in the heart of the winery and the fermentation areas as well. The building is exemplary not only in using quality materials, in the design of details but it is also environmentally responsible since its heating and cooling are solved by renewable energy sources. (Gábor Ghile's text)