Rheinzink mixes history and modern architecture for a wine shop in South Africa

Recognized internationally for the quality of its wines, the Louisvale vineyard in Stellenbosch, South Africa, has recently been extended with a wine store. Imagined by Christoff Albertyn Architects, the design of the work, and in particular its dome-shaped southern facade covered with a zinc-titanium coating RHEINZINK, pays homage to the lifestyle of the Khoïkhoi people, living in the region for two millennia. .

Operated for more than 100 years in the Stellenbosch region, the Louisvale vineyard is enjoying ever-growing success thanks to its award-winning wines around the world. To welcome their customers in the best conditions, the owners have decided to complete the existing manor house with a wine library dedicated to tasting and the organization of festive events.

For the architectural design of this extension, the South African agency Christoff Albertyn Architects wanted to pay tribute to the Khoïkhoï people and their way of life. Present for more than 2 years in this region, the Khoïkhoï are particularly known for their dome-shaped wooden huts and for their summer diet: pearl oysters, real oval-shaped sea snails with mother-of-pearl interior, the Perlemoen.

In echo, the 2-storey structure of the new wine store presents the oval shape of the Perlemoen and the south facade offers to the gaze the soft shape of a dome, pierced with a few openings taking up the geometry of these sea snails.

To underline and sublimate the complex shape of this facade, the agency Christoff Albertyn Architects has chosen the zinc-titanium RHEINZINK. The material met precisely three criteria: its malleability, allowing the facade to be easily produced in three dimensions; maintenance-free almost throughout its lifespan thanks to the natural formation of a protective patina; its responses to the criteria of the Cradle to Cradle concept in favor of environmental protection.

Finally, to benefit from the appearance of a naturally weathered surface from the start, the prePATINA slate shade was selected from the RHEINZINK shade surface color chart.