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Newly opened
Gehry Partners, LLP
Hotel Marques de Riscal
Elciego, (Alava) Spain


The winery of Vinos Herederos del Marques de Riscal is located in Elciego, in the Rioja region of Spain, and is one of the oldest wineries in the region.
Traditionally the wineries in the region are not open to the public, but as a component of an overall plan to redefine and invigorate its public image, Marques de Riscal commissioned the design of a small building intended to provide a unique experience for visitors to the winery. "A series of rectilinear elements, clad in sandstone, combined with sweeping panels of gold and pink titanium, and mirror finish stainless steel."

The site for the building is approached along a road that leads through the vineyards and through existing wine production facilities that date primarily from the mid-nineteenth century.

The building is lifted above the site on columns, creating a small entry plaza beneath the building itself and providing breathtaking views of the vineyards, the San Andres Church, and the surrounding town and region from each of the areas located in the upper levels of the building.

The entry plaza leads to the reception area and to a bar, which are set along the edge of a small area of the vineyards. An outdoor terrace leads to a small pool, and a covered walkway extending from the building allows visitors the opportunity to overlook the vineyards and the surrounding region.

Distributed throughout the three upper levels of the building are fourteen guest bedrooms, a wine tasting room, a 172-seat restaurant including a public dining room, a private dining room and outdoor dining terraces, and conference facilities.

Offices and meeting rooms for administrative staff are located adjacent to the building and are linked both to the building and to existing winery offices and production facilities.

Area: 2,500 square meters
Completed: September 2006

Client: Vinos Herederos del Marques de Riscal
Architect: Gehry Partners, LLP
Design Partner: Frank Gehry
Project Designer: Edwin Chan
Project Architects:
Richard Barrett
Andy Liu
Project Team:
Joejohn McVey
Colby Mayes
Guillermo Angarita
Albert Lee
Chad Dyner
Jonathon Rothstein
Matt Gagnon

Executive architect: IDOM
Architecture:
César Caicoya Gómez-Morán -
Fernando Pérez Fraile (DE)
José Sáenz de Argandoña Zatarain
Alberto Mínguez Ropiñón
Silvia Solá Santaolalla
Ana Lorena González Morales

Structural Engineering:
Javier Gómez Corral
Miles Shephard
Karl Blette
Miguel Angel Frías Villafruela
Eduardo Sáinz de la Encina
Juan Ignacio Lesarri
Shyamala Duraisingam

Mechanical Engineering: Francisco José Sánchez Aguilar
General Contractor: Ferrovial Agroman SA
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