Architecture

project

project
The
Winery
at
Brasswood
2011–2024
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2014

Set upon a highly visible site along busy Highway 29, this winery is part of The Village at Brasswood, a mixed-use wine and food complex in St. Helena. Our challenge was to craft a signature winery experience, while maintaining a level of simplicity within this busy destination.

The Winery at Brasswood

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The Winery at Brasswood
St. Helena, CA
2014
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The Winery at Brasswood
St. Helena, CA
2014
Since the winery is visible from the road, we were mindful of its visible impact.

It was also important to preserve the many trees on this wooded site, particularly the three old-growth oaks that partially screen the winery view.We sited the winery between the grove of trees behind it and the three oaks in front, its long, low profile topped with a green living roof that blends into the landscape.

The roofline is broken only by a silo-shaped extrusion housing the tank room. The repeated patterns of the trellising and slim columns create a subtly-shifting pattern to observers as they drive by and – by a trick of the eye – the silo appears to slowly rotate.

The long, barrel-shaped building accommodates all of the winery’s functions, with production on one side and hospitality on the other. Glass walls lining the front facade of the hospitality areas fold back to form indoor/outdoor spaces. The structural glass wall on the production side, curved to echo the silo, allows a glimpse into the production areas.In a nod to the many historic stone “ghost” wineries throughout the valley, the stucco walls are punctuated with stone accents, . In a simple, but effective, organizing principle, all surfaces running parallel to the road are stucco, while the walls running perpendicularly are covered in stone. The adjacent cave portal establishes an axis perpendicular to the building, culminating in an entry court enclosed by low, board formed concrete walls.

Team
Construction
Grassi & Associates
Cave Construction
The Cave Company
Green Roof
Habitat Gardens
Landscape Design
Blasen Landscape Architecture
Photography
Adrian Gregorutti
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