Photography Pavilion, Château La Coste, Puy-Sainte-Réparade, project: Renzo Piano Building Workshop
Project: Renzo Piano Building Workshop; Design Team: J. Moolhuijzen, D.Rat, M.Van der Staay (partner and associates in charge) with K.Lim; O.Aubert, C.Colson and Y.Kyrkos (models); Consultants: Arup (roof structure); AECOM (main structure, MEP); Tangram Architectes (local architect); Rainey Best (project & construction management); Main contractors: Architen Landrell (tensile fabric structure); Newsky (glazing); iGuzzini (lighting); Client: SCEA Château La Coste
In the midst of the 200 hectares of grapevines on Château La Coste’s exclusive estate in Provence, which also accommodates works of art and contemporary architecture, a new Photography Pavilion designed by Renzo Piano opened in May. The building brings together artistry and the conservation of wine.
Designed in perfect harmony with the topography of the land, this 285 m² pavilion is carved into the ground to a depth of 6 metres.
The facades and roof are made of glass and the purity of this material contrasts with the frugality of the rough concrete of the retaining and exhibition walls.
Constructed around this partly buried topology, the roof has been covered with a sail attached to thin metal arches echoing the graphic-style layout of grapevines, so that the sail itself is actually inscribed in the vineyard.
Like a kite, the sail flies around and then lands with the same softness and horizontality as the overall construction. On the inside, a 160 m² gallery lit by natural light hosts sculpture and photography exhibitions.
The remaining surface is taken up by cellars for storing the wine. A smooth, straight pathway leads across the vineyard to the pavilion, where the entrance to the “domaine” (Tadao Ando) is located.
A sculpture by Hiroshi Sugimoto and another by Calder, followed by Frank Gehry’s Music Pavilion, lead visitors along the gentle slope up to the new pavilion. A glass entrance space connected to the exhibition gallery provides a warm welcome.
There is a space designed for sculptures opening onto a pool of water at the rear of the building that extends right across the total width of the pavilion
