The centuries-old tradition of winemaking, passed down from generation to generation, is being preserved and cultivated in a modern, yet traditional winery made of wood, brick and straw.
Known as the Croatian Uplands, the region that lies southwest of the country’s capital Zagreb is one of four wine regions in Croatia. In Donja Reka, close to the town of Jastrebarsko, the Tomac family make traditional, biodynamic wines in the continental climate of the upland hills. In 2021, a modern building was added to the ensemble that the family had constructed over the past 70 years.
This new addition embodies the values of the family business, reflecting their raw and authentic interaction with nature through its architectural features. The design includes earthy clay block walls, exposed wooden beams, raw concrete, and a thatched roof topped with a green roof terrace, offering a harmonious blend of tradition and innovation.
The architects, Dva Arhitekta from Zagreb, chose a small number of natural materials for the modern barn and wanted to keep them visible: The ground floor is a plain clay block box with a concrete floor that adds a simple, raw beauty to the building. The insulated Porotherm 44 IZO Profi gives it a contemporary industrial appearance while ensuring a moderate temperature throughout the year. Flutings on the brick add a distinctive texture.
The load-bearing structure of the second floor was made of timber and creates a sturdy frame for the house. The upper floor serves as a naturally ventilated dry attic inspired by the wooden barns of the surrounding agricultural area. Finally, the thatched roof adds texture and the essence of an unprocessed natural material. A roof garden leaves space for flower beds and the family’s biodynamic growing culture.
“We solved all technological needs related to building physics with the choice of materials,” say the architects. Energy efficiency was a major factor in choosing pre-insulated clay blocks for the outer shell of the ground floor box of the barn. As the family produces wine in an ancient Georgian tradition where the grapes ferment in so-called “Qvevri” clay vessels under ground, the inside temperature of the barn needs to be as stable as possible.
“The winery, with its conception and choice of materials, is integrated into the natural scenery and thereby becomes an integral part of the ecosystem that surrounds it, also preserving the biodiversity,” the architects add. The completed ensemble is therefore not only a functional addition to the winemaker’s needs, but also serves as a shelter for all kinds of animal species, just as farm barns always have.
Get in contact with us
.jpg)
.jpg)
