Sustainable Practice: Designing With Terroir in Burgundy’s Wine Country

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In Beaune, the capital of Burgundy wine, the Cité des Climats et Vins de Bourgogne stands just beyond the historic center, where the landscape opens to vine-covered hills. Designed by Emmanuelle Andreani Architectes, the building draws direct inspiration from the grapevine — its spiraling helical ramp echoing the tendril’s climb and its material palette is rooted in the soils and forests of the region. Set apart from the dense medieval fabric, the striking first impression this building makes needs room to breathe and make itself known — just like the grapevines that inspired its exterior aesthetics.

Exterior of Cité des Climats Et Vins De Bourgogne by Emmanuelle Andreani Architectes, Beaune, France

The project is dedicated to educating visitors on the culture, industry, traditions and processes that define one of the world’s most famous wine-growing regions. Meanwhile, the site itself acts as a bridge between the iconic centuries-old cellars that litter central Beaune and the town’s iconic wine route, where oenophiles can explore vine-covered hills around the ville. The importance of this position is hard to overstate.

Opening around the same time as the winemaking ‘climats’ of the region were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, an accolade saved for geographically unique destinations, practices and cultures, local materiality is key to the design’s sustainable credentials. For example, burgundy stone and indigenous timber, with more wood used for the external façades, too, which have been filled with hemp concrete.

All these products help reduce the building’s footprint, and nature plays a significant role elsewhere, too. Over 400 trees have been planted in the stunning grounds, encouraging indigenous ecosystems to use the estate as they would the untouched countryside.

Cité des Climats Et Vins De Bourgogne by Emmanuelle Andreani Architectes, Beaune, France

Looking to the rooftop, 1,000 vines effectively create a new ‘climat’ for the region. In doing so, they contribute to the culture that is celebrated within, where there are a range of activities and displays across reception and retail areas, offices, a tasting room-cum-lecture space and exhibition zones. Then a stunning restaurant with panoramic views from an outdoor terrace offers a chance to taste the goods firsthand.

All the better for taking in the spectacular landscapes that have hosted winemakers for hundreds of years already. Rural environs are reflected in the building itself. The iconic exterior ramp was directly inspired by the tendril of a vine, and specifically how this wraps around trellis wire after taking root in a vineyard. The design choice also represents the constant movement of nature’s yearly growth cycle, repeated every 12 months despite never really being the same.

Exterior of Cité des Climats Et Vins De Bourgogne by Emmanuelle Andreani Architectes, Beaune, France

According to the architects, Cité des Climats Et Vins De Bourgogne is conceived as an “authentic place imbued with discovery, exchange and tradition.” The firm believes the project can “be discovered in the same manner as one tastes wine: with desire, appetite and modesty.”

Striking as it is, you can’t help but pick up on what that means. The building does not want to impose on the countryside nor insist on itself. Exquisite landscaping helps it swerve both, complementing the surrounding area rather than detracting or distracting from it. This means nature remains the star of the show.

The fact this visitor attraction has opened at a point in time when a number of France’s more southerly winemaking regions are facing an existential crisis due to climate change only makes the concept feel more significant.

Alongside areas of California, Greece, Italy and Spain, it’s no longer a question of whether adaptation is necessary for French winemakers. (Notably, in Australia, 65% of traditional vineyards could become unsustainable.) Instead, we must ask how much adaptation is going to be required. And at what point does that adaptation become unfeasible or unaffordable?

Cité des Climats Et Vins De Bourgogne by Emmanuelle Andreani Architectes, Beaune, France

Relocating to higher ground is the most obvious solution for many. But until we know the extent to which the planet will heat this century, it’s impossible to ascertain whether such a move will offer a quick fix or long-term solution.

For Burgundy, the impact of global warming has so far been less pronounced than, say, Champagne or Bordeaux. Nevertheless, the region’s reliance on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes — both extremely sensitive to spring frosts and heat waves — means the local industry is vulnerable and adaptation will be necessary to survive and continue to thrive., So, one day Emmanuelle Andreani Architectes’ beautiful ode to local bottles could either become an invaluable interactive timeline chronicling how the industry transformed and continued, or a tribute to what has been lost.

The winners of the 13th Architizer A+Awards have been announced! Looking ahead to next season? Stay up to date by subscribing to our A+Awards Newsletter.

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