New cellars at Château Margaux wine state, Bordeaux

Interior architecture and furnishings for the new fermentation facility and laboratory at the French winery Château Margaux.

Château Margaux, one the world’s most prestigious wine brands, commissioned Norman Foster to renovate the Margaux estate in the Bordeaux region and adapt it to the present and future requirements related to the production and promotion of its wines. In addition to restoring and modernising some of the existing facilities, the British architect has erected a new building to house the fermentation process and laboratory. Empty was involved in the interior finishes and furnishings.

Designed to offer a flexible container, the new facility reinterprets the dominant language of the overall complex, lending it a contemporary edge. This is evidenced by the solution adopted for the sloping roof — supported by tree-pillars and incorporating skylights — and the design of the sculptural stainless steel stairs that connect the building’s two levels.