CCA grows a winery from the soil

‘vinicola cuna de tierra; by CCA, san luis de la paz, mexico
all images courtesy of CCA

recently opened this year, the ‘vinicola cuna de tierra’ in northeastern mexico adds a high-class winery to the landscape. using the winery’s name as a conceptual driver (cuna de tierra means cradle of soil), and its connection to its arid context, the project designed by local practice CCA (center for collaborative architecture) shows an exploration on the relationship between the development of wine and the site where the grape fields reside. the same soil that fosters life for the grape vines becomes the primary material for the construction of a group of built spaces that intend to merge with the landscape. a series of independent orthogonal structures laid out in a strategic composition on site are built using a series of low-cost construction methods to maintain a high functional and aesthetic level. the free-standing elements also explore the possible interactions and tensions created between the volumes, the voids between them, and their relation to the functional process of the winery. the approach on designing a high standard winery with the less-than-average number of high-tech constructive systems shows different solutions to the various details encountered along the building process, which are revealed with the design of natural lighting and ventilation cavities around the spaces of the winery. the mix of natural soil, wood, and concrete – gathered locally – tends to transmit to cuna de tierra’s workers and visitors a clean man-made construction that stands as a testament to the ecological richness of the site.

view from the courtyard

voids in the structures suggest entrances while keeping the purity of the form

sliding metal doors add a new texture to the concrete exteriors and open the interior spaces to the outside

embedded water feature

fermentation barrels

model

model

(above) floor plan/ level 0
(below) section

conceptual development