LR - BAM - Organize your own architecture competition

Contact-us

ARCHITECTURE COMPETITION

Château Lafite Rothschild
redesign of an exceptional cellar

see the winning project
The competition
redesigning the wine cellar

Château Lafite Rothschild, whose vines have been historically established in Pauillac for centuries, has built its reputation on the excellence of its wine.
Today, the winemaking process and the spatial organization of the vineyard buildings need to be restructured to be more coherent, precise, and to respond to new environmental challenges.

In dialogue with the unique terroir facing it, the architectural project will aim to perpetuate the values of humility, respect for secular know-how, and protection of nature dear to Lafite.

The useful surface of the estate will be enlarged by 4500 m² and 6000 m² will be rehabilitated. The project will have to satisfy all the technical requirements of the vinification process and fit into the existing without ostentation.

Through this competition, Château Lafite Rothschild's ambition is to engage in a resilient approach. Preserving the environment is an obvious priority in order to maintain the quality of its wine.
WINNING PROJECT
Bernard Quirot Architecte & Associés + Atelier EGR
The finalist projects
harquitectes + plan común
rcr arquitectes
antoine dufour
john pawson + david leclerc architecture
Competition figures :

applicants
nationalities
represented
different companies
pritzker
prizes
An exceptional wine
perpetuate the lafite spirit

Lafite wine, even more than its Château, is a monument of French heritage. "Premier des premiers crus", its terroir is a natural and historical exception. This land, with its unique mineral qualities, and the ancestral know-how that has shaped it has built the reputation of its wines.

If the terroir is the main protagonist in the history of Lafite wine, each generation of the Rothschild family has contributed to its narrative, without ever succumbing to the effects of trend. Some winemakers families have been working there for several generations, ensuring the transmission of the traditions on which the Lafite spirit is based.
The Domaines Barons Rothschild (Lafite) owns vineyards on several continents but the heart of its history is Bordeaux. Owners of Château Lafite since 1868, five generations of the family have worked to perpetuate the know-how and tradition of this prestigious vineyard.

In 2018, Saskia de Rothschild succeeds her father Baron Eric de Rothschild at the head of the group. Through this competition, she wishes to adapt the winemaking areas to the new technical needs while keeping intact the emotion that emanates from the site.
Programme
redesigning the château lafite rothschild wine cellar

The project includes the restructuring and extension of the winemaking areas, with a surface area of approximately 10,500 m².

It includes the rationalization of accesses and flows, particularly of grapes, and the creation of spaces as well as the installation of new equipment.

These objectives will have to be achieved in accordance with environmental principles that give priority to common sense, local and circular economy of means, and constructive intelligence rather than the multiplication of technical devices.

Understanding the site also means understanding the winemaking process and its constraints, as well as the singularities of Lafite: here, the hierarchy of spaces obeys more the historical dimension and the emotions they arouse than the pure logic of a winemaking site.
Calendar

closure of registration
November 4th 2020
competition
December 7th, 2020 - announcement of the teams selected to compete
February 18th & 19th, 2021 - on-site presentation of the project proposals (phase 1)
February 22nd, 2021 - announcement of the 3 finalist teams
April 29th, 2021 - deadline for project submissions
May 7th, 2021 - presentation of projects in the presence of the jury (phase 2)
May-June 2021 - announcement of the winning project
Organisation
teams selection
5 teams admitted to compete will be selected by the project owner, on the basis of their portfolio and a letter of motivation.
At the end of the first phase of the competition, only three teams will be designated finalists and invited to participate in the second phase.
Each team admitted to compete will be compensated up to 15 000€ HT for its participation in the first phase of the competition. An additional indemnity of 20 000€HT will be awarded to the teams admitted to participate in the second phase, a total of 35 000€ HT per finalist team.
registration fees
Registrations are free of charge until October 23rd at 8pm (Paris Time)
Candidates or teams who complete their registration after this date will have to pay a late registration fee of 100 € incl VAT.
The deadline for registration of applications is November 4th 2020.
elegibility requirements
The competition is open to all French or foreign architects authorized to practice in France.
The integration to the team of partners with skills in structural engineering, fluid/thermal engineering, environmental quality, construction economics, is strongly recommended.
The integration to the teams of partners with skills in engineering and wine process is optional but can be useful for a good understanding of the stakes of the program by the teams.
For architectural agencies and/or consultants offices not based in France, partnerships with local agencies are strongly encouraged.
For architectural firms of national or international renown, partnerships with young, up-and-coming firms will be encouraged.
Project site
discover videos & photos from the site
Partners
this competition is organized in partnership with
FAQ

is it mandatory to respond with specialized design offices or other consultants?
It is strongly recommended to partner with design offices with references in low carbon or high environmental performance constructions, in case the architects do not have any. The amount foreseen for the fees is specified in the regulations.
is it possible to attach a pdf portfolio to my application?
In the interest of fairness, portfolios in PDF format are not accepted. Only projects and items uploaded to the BAM portfolio will be analyzed.
can design offices or consultants create their portfolio on bam?
Yes, design offices or consultants can and must create their portfolio in the same way as architects, by selecting "Design Offices / Consultants" when creating the portfolio. References can be added by integrating photographs and graphics.
is it imperative for the architectural firm to work with a wine design office?
If the architectural firm does not have this competence and references in the construction of wine cellars, the association with a consultant or a wine design office can be valued as part of the application. It's not mandatory.

ARCHITECTURE COMPETITION Château Lafite Rothschild

redesign of an exceptional cellar see the winning project

The competition

redesigning the wine cellar

WINNING PROJECT

Bernard Quirot Architecte & Associés + Atelier EGR

The finalist projects

harquitectes + plan común

rcr arquitectes

antoine dufour

john pawson + david leclerc architecture

Competition figures :

applicants

nationalitiesrepresented

different companies

pritzkerprizes

An exceptional wine

perpetuate the lafite spirit

Programme

redesigning the château lafite rothschild wine cellar

Calendar

closure of registration

competition

Organisation

teams selection

registration fees

elegibility requirements

Project site

discover videos & photos from the site

Partners

this competition is organized in partnership with

FAQ

is it mandatory to respond with specialized design offices or other consultants?

is it possible to attach a pdf portfolio to my application?

can design offices or consultants create their portfolio on bam?

is it imperative for the architectural firm to work with a wine design office?

ARCHITECTURE COMPETITION

Château Lafite Rothschild

redesign of an exceptional cellar

see the winning project

nationalities
represented

pritzker
prizes