Wisdom From The Vines

Crowned by an elegant concrete wave that acts as a rooftop amphitheatre, Lahofer Winery is a contemporary homage to the winemaking traditions of moravia.

- Pearlie Tan

Set gracefully on the rich soil of the Moravia wine region, the Lahofer Winery in Dobšice is the new headquarters of one of the largest wine producers in the Czech Republic, extending over 430 hectares and producing half a million bottles annually.

Architecture studio CHYBIK + KRISTOF presents an articulate response to the history and topography of the region, with a framework that takes cues from the traditional wine cellars of Moravia and a structural scheme based on the width of the rows of grapevines, resulting in a powerful visual symmetry that mirrors the landscape.

An undulating, walkable roof lies between the production area and visitor centre, creating an amphitheatre that serves as a cultural venue for the community and brings together the distinct volumes.

The 3,900m2 complex lies on a grid of arched beams housing three structures of varying heights that intersect and overlap.

“The building is integrated within the landscape in a way that the distance between the vine rows determines the structural elements,” explains architects Ondrej Chybík and Michal Krištof.

CUES FROM THE LAND

A state-of-the-art wine production facility is concentrated in two horizontal halls.

Centralising operations from grape harvest to fermentation and bottling, these spaces contain the wine press, cellar and storage areas, alongside a dedicated courtyard with separate access.

Beside these volumes is the visitor centre and tasting room, connected to the administrative offices of the winery.