Domaine Fondugues Pradugues

Set on a 35-acre site in a protected valley in the South of France, this winery is nestled amid a grove of pines to preserve the site’s integrity. The simple forms of the three buildings reflect the region’s agricultural character, their placement forming an informal courtyard that can be used for either production or hospitality. Tasting areas share space with barrel storage in a long, low building set parallel to the vine rows. A second structure, set perpendicular to the first, houses fermentation and offices, while a third provides restrooms and equipment storage.

The organization of materials emphasizes the horizontality of the buildings: a masonry plinth supports plaster walls, wood above the datum line references the surrounding pines, and tile roofs echo the regional vernacular. Openings in the facades create a deliberate rhythm aligned with the ‘golden ratio’, an aesthetic principle based on a ratio of elements most pleasing to the human eye.