Te Kano Estate Cellar Door, designed by Mason & Wales Architects, is a collection of shipping containers that provide an intimate cellar door and tasting room. Conceived as a treasure box or chest, the simple building form rests lightly on the ground, extends from rows of vines and reaches out towards the river and wider views beyond. A simple entry door leads through to an intimate and crafted tasting lounge, which connects to an enclosed outdoor terrace which cantilevers out over the lower vineyard. To the west relaxed outdoor spaces enjoy the dramatic views of the surrounding desert like landscape and neighbouring vineyards of Bannockburn, while back of house service and operational spaces are concealed beneath.
Te Kano Estates commitment to sustainability is evident in their recent accreditation as a certified organic vineyard, and this building provided an opportunity to work towards an increased environmentally sustainable design.
Repurposed shipping containers serve as the structural shell for the building and have been modified and fitted with insulation and services systems to suit the application. Whilst challenging to integrate structurally, this served to constructively limit the buildings footprint and distil the function of the building to its absolute necessities.
Externally the Architectural Design responds to its desert-like landscape with robust material choices able to withstand the harsh climactic conditions and weather gracefully over time. The weathering steel rainscreen cladding is screw fixed allowing the panels to be demounted and repurposed if required in the future. Timber rainscreen elements, decking and shading screens utilise locally sourced, untreated Macrocarpa timbers without the need for applied finishes or ongoing maintenance.
Internally materials are durable whilst being warm and inviting to ensure a high-quality guest experience. Timber features extensively throughout the interior to provide this experience and veneered timbers were used over solid for the walls, doors and ceilings.
Heating and cooling is provided by an energy efficient air-sourced split conditioning system and the lighting system is comprised solely of low energy, LED fittings.
The new building and surrounding landscaping have been welcomed with a sense of pride by neighbours and the surrounding community, raising the bar for the regions maturing tourism industry with a unique and high-quality offering.
‘Te Kano (Maori for seed) is for those who appreciate the rarest combination of layered elegance and sublime natural quality’ Te Kano Estate.
Material Used:
1. Facade cladding: Corten Weathering Steel Panels
2. Windows: APL Thermal Heart, Design Windows, Cromwell
3. Window shades: Custom fabricated Corten Weathering Steel
4. Roofing: Viking Enviroclad TPO membrane roofing
5. Interior lighting: Light Studio, Wellington
6. Interior Doors: B&M Joinery, Cromwell
7. Ceiling battens Decortech
8. Interior door hardware and some selected external: CHANT.
