Location: Saint-Magne-de-Castillon, Libourne, Gironde department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, southwestern France.
Architect: Eric Castagnotto.
The new Carillon d’Angélus winery building is situated in Saint-Magne-de-Castillon, a town in the French administrative region of Libourne. In order to increase the size of their current workplace in Saint-Émilion, Château Angélus purchased the winery. The decision to relocate the new facilities to a completely other portion of the region was made since the area, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was unable to easily expand due to architectural and heritage constraints.
The majority of the working rooms are placed in the sunken portion of the cellar plan, which also includes a viewable portion. The latter is made up of a gallery with a wooden arch that serves as the primary cellar entrance. The entrance’s recognizable design exudes a sense of opulence and modernity. The inner space is also unique because of a triangulation of wooden planks that cross one another and are reminiscent of old-fashioned wine cellars. The building is hidden within the surrounding scenery by a large partitioned glass wall that reflects the surrounding vineyards, sky, and clouds.
The building’s semi-submergence and green roof, which mimics a hill in the terrain, are design features that incorporate both the technological and environmental facets that Carillon d’Angélus seeks to promote. The installation of photovoltaic panels on the roof of this cutting-edge structure, allowing for self-production of the necessary energy for the winery to function and operate, reduces its environmental impact.