Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion by Philippe Starck
The famous French architect signs the new building for this Pessac-Léognan winery
The famous property of Pessac-Léognan is offering services of Philippe Starck and Luc Arsène-Henry to design his new cellar. This approach is part of a policy established by Patrice Pichet during its acquisition in 2010 to make this property one of the jewel of this wine appellation.
Before moving to the winery itself I suggest you start with a key explanatory poetry by Starck :
“Wine is a magic
Its elaboration is magic
Our relationship is sentimental
Its structure is an abstrac
Its effect vertigo
Its knowledge is culture
Its color is virtual
Only the language the language of the immaterial mind can be used to describe wine. His house was at the mention at least an intuition, a reflection. This great winery, Les Carmes Haut-Brion deserved this consistency, I hope we are worthy of this.”
Why this design?
The new winery Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion is primarily designed to combine work efficiency and design and especially history. Indeed, this new building is intended as a tribute to the history of the city of Bordeaux and its port as explained Luc Arsène-Henry :
“We have sought above all to make this chai an effective tool. If the techchnology is due : the architecture and design are arts, they must bring the emotion there.
Emblematic representative of one of the only Bordeaux vintages in Bordeaux city area , the cellar of Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion had to recall its symbolic membership in the historical past of the city .
Carried for centuries by boat at the four points of the world, Bordeaux wine gave its port and its city and world recognition?
Stranded in a beautiful grove carefully preserved, and a green belt in between the two sides covered with vine below the chateau, the new winery is a contemporary boat with inverted bow , distributed on four levels tapering all activities of reception and essential techniques .
Free of any architectural gesture, expressing the image of his wine, finesse and elegance.”
How will this cellar brought about ?
This building will cover an area of approximately 2000 meter square : a cuve, cellars and a tasting room. This new building will be opened during 2015.
The new barrel cellar of Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion will have a maximum capacity of 300 barrels and will be buried under the ground level and the surface of the water body to avoid fluctuations in temperature and humidity.
Receiving harvest will extend walk- over 200 meter square and contact a winery winemaking gravity (a real advantage for the quality and conservation of fruit flavors) 400 meter square which will offer a capacity of 900 hl distributed in 23 tanks alternating three materials: wood, stainless steel and concrete. Partial wine making will take place in tanks
Tasting room will be built on the upper level overlooking the chest. A panoramic terrace of 350 meter square will allow you to enjoy a panoramic view on this property. Very beautiful days so to say!
On a personal note, contrary to what some people say I find this modern architecture well deserves to be in this vineyard. Not by personal choice but simply because all the buildings of the Bordeaux vineyards have always been made in the style of their time to mark their century.
Jonathan Choukroun Chicheportiche
©pictures: Giorgi Bocolishvili