Visiting the Etyeki Kúria
June 11, 2024
Designing the BudaPrés Cider building, completed last year, was a great challenge for us, as we had previously designed a building with a similar program on Etyek Öreghegy (Old hill) in the past. The Etyeki Kúria was built more than ten years ago and has been operating successfully ever since. The building’s concept is still clearly visible in the recently taken photographs.
Both buildings are located among the old press houses and vineyards of Öreghegy in Etyek, an area renowned famous for its winemaking and gastronomy. The investment program of the Etyeki Kúria stated the planning of a modern and characteristic estate centre, that has operational and visitor areas alike. The design, with its unique aesthetic, was intended to contribute to the success of the emerging brand. Local building regulations require new structures to align with the scale of the already existing built environment and to feature traditional gable roofs. However, in both cases, the modern factory building described in the program was significantly larger than a typical press house. Our studio addressed this challenge through its architectural concept.
The elongated mass of the Etyeki Kúria building is positioned alongside the street, near an existing, old agricultural building. The closed street front is solely interrupted by the space of the entrance bay. Despite its scale, the winery evokes the character of traditional press houses through its distinctive roof articulation.
Another key aspect of the concept was the arrival experience. A row of trees was planted perpendicular to the road, aligned with the entrance bay, the tasting area, the terrace, the vineyard and the panorama view, offering a seamless transition into a space of relaxation and rejuvenation. Modern materials such as exposed concrete surfaces, glass gable walls, steel beams, and natural wood reinterpret the traditional gable-roofed structure in a distinctly contemporary manner. The varying ceiling heights in the visitor areas and corridors create an unexpected spatial experience, while large glass openings oriented towards the panoramic view draw visitors’ attention outward. The interplay of light and shadow, combined with the vineyard’s scenery, creates an inspiring interior atmosphere.
