Self-expression

Carme Pinós says this winery aims to be a fusion of architecture and territory, part of the landscape. It's fair to say she achieves this, semi-burying it in the gentle slope of a mound next to the vineyards, with panoramic views. And I can add that the Barcelona architect has achieved her goal without sacrificing the formal power that distinguishes her. Read also Barcelona is betting on Harquitectes with six projects at once: "We seek a balance between the ordinary and the extraordinary." Llàtzer Moix Many winery owners have hired renowned architects to enhance their brands. Some designed striking works, such as Frank Gehry's Marqués de Riscal hotel in Elciego (Rioja Alavesa). Others preferred silence and discretion, such as RCR in Bell-lloc, near Palamós. Read also In the bones Llàtzer Moix To meet this commission from the Roda Group, Pinós chose a middle ground. In short, his project resembles a large, inverted concrete tile, slightly tilted, and planted on the plot. On its front side, facing the landscape, it appears to be supported by an undulating brick facade. Behind its rear facade, on a subterranean level, are the three large rooms used for winemaking, barrels, and bottle racks. Read also What is not told about the airport Llàtzer Moix These rooms are consecutive and cubic, and have perimeter walkways. Here, Pinós's influence is restrained, but it can be sensed in the light that enters through a skylight or in the reed-molded formwork. In the rest of the building, this influence is more visible, manifesting itself both in the pathways and in the formal design. Particularly in the entrance through which the grapes enter the winery, framed by imposing structural forms of concrete, with Brutalist echoes, and by stone gabions that describe gentle curves, a combination that lends dynamism and balance to the work. And, more subtly, it is expressed in the grape reception room and in the social areas, one after the other, in a large vestibule under the inverted tile. Entering this vestibule offers a moving spatial experience. Read also Prodis's Vapor (★★★★✩): beyond providing shelter Llàtzer Moix In these wineries, built in the Burgos municipality of La Horra, Pinós has created a mature work, with a precise understanding of the place, a refined expression of his own, and a final result that blends creativity and functionality with ecological awareness.