A centuries-old winery in the heart of Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, has been masterfully converted into a modern residential home, showcasing how historic wine-making architecture can be adapted for contemporary living. The 4,144-square-foot renovation project, completed in 2022 by Iniesta Nowell Arquitectos under the direction of lead architects Rafael Iniesta Nowell and Luis Gutiérrez Sancho, demonstrates exceptional preservation of the building's original character while meeting modern residential needs.
Jerez de la Frontera represents a unique urban landscape where traditional wineries sit alongside residential buildings, creating a distinctive cityscape deeply connected to southern Spain's wine-making heritage. The city's architectural identity has been shaped by the soleras and criaderas aging system, which requires large, dark, well-ventilated, and cool cellars for wine barrel storage arranged in vertical structures. These atmospheric spaces are characterized by their unforgettable aromas and dramatic lighting created by occasional rays of sunlight piercing through the darkness.
The transformation of Jerez began in the late 18th century when sherry wine exports expanded globally, prompting local winemakers to transition from domestic to industrial operations without leaving the city center. This evolution created a complex urban fabric that includes not only the primary wine cellars but also an intricate network of streets, squares, and auxiliary spaces dedicated to various maintenance activities such as barrel cleaning and repair work.
Over the decades, many of these wine-related structures have been repurposed for diverse uses including retail shops, office spaces, fitness centers, and residential properties. The specific winery featured in this project had previously served as a furniture warehouse before being abandoned when the architectural team was commissioned to transform it into a family residence.
Historical documentation revealed that the structure was originally a small domestic winery, likely connected to a residential building that has since been demolished. Property records mentioned the existence of a maintenance alleyway, though this feature was completely obscured by the building's deteriorated condition when the renovation began.
The restoration process provided a valuable opportunity to rediscover elements of Jerez's historic urban infrastructure, particularly the network of service alleys that formed a secondary city connected to the wine industry. This hidden urban layer represents what the architects describe as "a city within a city," highlighting the complex relationship between residential and industrial spaces in traditional Spanish wine regions.
The architectural team approached the compact, poorly ventilated building by working in reverse, first locating remnants of the original service alley and then creating a new rear terrace. This outdoor space serves dual purposes as both a social gathering area and a cooling retreat featuring a small swimming pool that provides relief from the region's warm climate.
The interior layout strategically positions the living room and kitchen along the main façade, carefully preserving the monumental character provided by the building's original soaring ceiling heights. Meanwhile, the private sleeping quarters are arranged across two levels at the rear of the structure, offering views over the newly created patio and pool area. The design incorporates open-plan spaces that create sight lines through the entire building, establishing visual connections from south to north and east to west.
The renovation became an intensive study in adapting pre-existing structural elements, with the architects choosing to work exclusively with traditional materials commonly used in historic winery construction. The material palette includes local limestone, lime plaster, pine wood, and wrought iron, all of which respect the building's original construction methods and regional architectural traditions.
Out of profound respect for the traditional building typology and time-honored construction techniques, the architects successfully renovated this forgotten structure into a distinctly Mediterranean Andalusian residence. Simultaneously, the project restored a significant piece of Jerez's urban fabric to active use, contributing to the preservation of the winery city character that continues to define the community's identity today. The completed home stands as a testament to thoughtful adaptive reuse that honors architectural heritage while serving contemporary residential needs.
