In the German village of Muhlhofen, a recent structural addition to the Bietighofer Winery goes against the grain of our preconceived notion of buildings of this type. The local practice of Burkhard Architekten were assigned the task of the design of the new Pressing Hall, which would adjoin a pre-existing storage unit of the winery.
The appearance of a 21 metre wide concrete box makes a bold statement in contemporary design, even more so by the pre-weathered Corten steel cladding which was affixed to the storage unit and together form a pleasant, yet unexpected, contrast in hues and surfaces. The soaring 7m interior is linked to the 5.5m of the storage space by a strip of skylights allowing natural daylight to enter the space. The vast dimensions of the extension are further enhanced by the narrow ribbon of deeply recessed windows which emphasise the thickness of the pre cast concrete walls of the Pressing Hall.
With a deliberate simplicity of form and contemporary aesthetic, the structure reflects the ethos and product of the innovative winery who combine the traditional skills of winemaking with the pioneering 21st century methods which increasingly supplement the world of the present day oenologist.
