Sauska Tokaj

The volcanic slope of Padi-hill where the landscape is shaped by the historical vineyards of the World Heritage Wine Region of Tokaj is the place of a new experience. The new Sauska winery does not only answer to modern industrial needs but it also caters to our client’s wish for the building to stand out while safeguarding the traditional landscape.

Sauska Tokaj winery has been one of Hungary’s leading wineries for nearly two decades. Krisztián Sauska and his wife planned to create a family winery in the Tokaj wine region, where gastronomy can also take place. The program of the building required the design of a centre which, despite its size, fits perfectly into its surroundings, yet offers an exclusive experience and an extraordinary view.

The architectural concept was inspired by the “untouched untouchable” - the view of undulating vineyards. The aim was to make the building appear like a gentle form floating above the landscape.

The Sauska Tokaj winery is not a house in its traditional sense. If you observe the building from far away, you can only see two sculpture-like bowls floating in the vineyard.

The winery is on the top of the southern slope of Padi-hill. The two spectacular 36-m-diameter lens shaped building volumes host the public areas, restaurant and bar. The view to the vineyard and having close connection with nature were determining aspects during the conceptual phase of the design. Therefore the public spaces were designed as open as possible and they are linked to huge observation terraces.

The lens shapes seem to float in the landscape, which is further highlighted by the sunlight gliding on to the surface of their lower shell.

The winemaking process, that requires constant temperature and a larger space, takes place under the ground. In the impressive, circular fermentation rooms the steel tanks are arranged in concentric circles, in the middle of which lies the wooden barrel aging area. The arrival of grapes and the shipment of finished goods take place through a tunnel running along the longitudinal axis of the building, like a massive built-in turbine, which also serves as a space for the necessary mechanical equipment.

The winery appears in the form of circular gardens planted into bowls hovering in the height of the grapes on Padi-hill. The building cannot be separated from its environment; its volume and facade create a unity with the surroundings preserving the historic landscape of Tokaj Wine Region.