SAUSKA TOKAJ, RATKA, HUNGARY

BORD ARCHITECTURAL STUDIO, SAUSKA TOKAJ, RATKA, HUNGARY

Designed by the Hungarian firm BORD headed by Péter Bordás, Sauska Tokaj winery, located in the heart of the Hungarian wine producing region of Tokaj-Hegyalja, a UNESCO World Heritage site, blends seamlessly into its surroundings thanks to its elegant exterior design, adding to the region's tourist appeal and the prestige of its wines. The architecture was inspired by the concept of being  'untouchably pristine': the view of the rolling vineyards through a building that seems to float above the landscape.

Perched atop the southern slopes of Padi Hill, the winery is defined by two intersecting, 36-meter-wide lens-shaped volumes. These visible, elevated structures are freely accessible to visitors, while the functional areas requiring stable temperatures—such as fermentation and storage—are housed underground. In the dramatic, circular fermentation halls on the cellar level, stainless steel tanks are arranged concentrically around a central wooden barrel aging area. Above this, the restaurant and bar occupy the floating lens structures, supported by slender steel columns. The illusion of levitation is further enhanced by the way sunlight glides across the underside of the hovering forms

The entrance is discreetly integrated into the sloping terrain, allowing the sculptural architecture to make an unbroken impact. A wide pathway leads from the parking area, offering breathtaking views of the region’s prized vineyards. Arriving guests step into an intimate transition space that extends into the lobby. From here, a skylit corridor leads to the main visitor areas and the panoramic terrace. Inside, the high, curved ceilings of the restaurant and bar gradually narrow into the direction of the view, drawing the eye outward. As visitors step onto the terrace, the vastness of the landscape unfolds before them, creating a powerful sensory experience.

The winery’s operational areas—pressing, bottling, and labeling—are arranged in a rectangular layout and connected to the fermentation spaces. Grapes arrive and finished wines are shipped via a tunnel running along the longitudinal axis of the building. This tunnel also houses essential mechanical equipment. The cold, metallic aesthetic of the cellar contrasts strikingly with the vibrant, warm-toned visitor spaces floating above.

Client: Sauska and Partner, General Design: BORD Architectural Studio; Head Architect: Péter Bordás ; Coordinating Architect: Csilla Kracker ; Architect Team: Robert György Benke, Fruzsina Damásdi, Róbert Gulyás, Ágota Melinda Keresztesi-Angi, András Kéki, Balázs Móser, Györgyi Püspöki, Tamás Tolvaj, Kata Zih; Interior Design:  Tihany Design, Alessia Genova, Principal and Adam D. Tihany, Founder ; Mechanical Engineering: BORD HVAC Engineering, Zoltán Hollókövi ; Structural Design: Hydrastat Engineering, Zsigmond Dezső; Landscape design: Gardenworks, András Kuhn ; Garden Expert and Contractor: Barry B. Britton ; Photo: Hufton + Crow