The Wine House, a striking new addition to Sweden's Astad Vingard estate, represents the latest collaboration between Copenhagen-based NORM Architects and the visionary vineyard owners. Completed in 2025, this transformative project follows the successful launch of Restaurant ANG and the lakeside Sjoparken retreat, further expanding the estate's reputation for integrating architecture with nature. Nestled into a gentle hillside in the Swedish countryside, the building serves as both a wine tasting facility and a gathering space that deepens the sensory experience for visitors. The architects approached this project with a clear intention to quiet the architecture itself, allowing the surrounding landscape to take center stage while creating a timeless composition that feels both contemporary and rooted in its context.
The structure's design cleverly uses the natural slope of the terrain to minimize its visual impact. Carved into the planted hillside, the Wine House unfolds across a series of interconnected levels, terraces, and grand outdoor staircases that make the building appear smaller and more integrated than its actual size. This terraced approach creates a dynamic relationship between interior and exterior spaces, with each level offering different perspectives of the vineyard and forest beyond. The modern facade features clean lines that provide a deliberate contrast to the organic forms of the surrounding forest and existing spa buildings. Broad stairways and rhythmic railings become essential architectural gestures, drawing the eye across the sweeping topography and encouraging movement through the landscape. Green roofs continue the design language established in the Sjoparken project, helping the building blend seamlessly into the estate while maintaining its own distinct rural character.
Upon arrival, guests encounter a wooden pergola that frames the entrance with a sense of calm and anticipation. This transitional space invites visitors to slow down before entering the main building. Inside, the Wine House becomes a carefully choreographed sequence of atmospheres designed to enhance the tasting experience. The reception area sets an immediate tone with its use of tactile materials, darker hues, and comfortable acoustics shaped by brick flooring, heavy timber structures, and textured walls. Adjacent to the reception, a small boutique showcases the vineyard's own wines alongside curated ceramics and crafted objects. A long wooden counter resting on carved stone serves as a centerpiece, paying homage to both the raw nature surrounding the estate and the spirit of the Michelin-starred Restaurant ANG located in the fields beyond.
Throughout the building, views are carefully framed like living paintings, creating constant visual connections to the landscape. A new orangery-like structure offers a full panorama over the lake and nearby restaurant, providing an in-between space for lingering with a glass of wine, enjoying a quiet morning coffee, or gathering by the fireplace. Zones of intimacy unfold through the use of soft textiles, semi-transparent curtains, and comfortable nooks, all balanced against the sturdiness of brick and timber construction. This interplay of materials creates a rich sensory experience that changes throughout the day as natural light filters through the spaces. The design thoughtfully balances communal areas with more private moments, allowing guests to choose their own experience.
A grand staircase crafted from dark oiled oak leads to the upper floor, where the material palette shifts into lighter tones to create a more ethereal atmosphere. Here, a colonnade defines a meditative space designed for yoga, relaxation, and unwinding. Outdoor terraces blend seamlessly into the hillside, guiding visitors upward toward a rooftop that offers panoramic views of the entire estate. This progression from the grounded, earthy lower levels to the light-filled upper spaces mirrors the journey of wine itself—from earth to glass. The Wine House serves as a hub that connects the estate's many offerings while holding its own distinctive presence, expanding the narrative begun with ANG and Sjoparken.
The project reinforces a shared ambition to craft spaces that heighten awareness, invite reflection, and reconnect guests with the quiet rhythms of nature. By stripping away architectural irregularities to reveal a more timeless expression, NORM Architects has created a destination that honors both the craft of winemaking and the experience of place. The Wine House demonstrates how thoughtful design can enhance our connection to landscape and tradition while providing contemporary comfort and functionality. It stands as a testament to the power of architecture to shape our sensory experiences and deepen our appreciation for the natural world.
