Project Credits & Specs
- Designers: Studio Other Spaces
- Images: The Donum Estate and Studio Other Spaces, Adam Potts
- Location: Sonoma, California, United States
- Lead Designers: artist Olafur Eliasson and architect Sebastian Behmann
- Year: 2022
Project Description
The Donum Estate, one of the leading California Pinot Noir producers, inaugurates Vertical Panorama Pavilion, a space dedicated to tasting wine, enabling a contextual and unique encounter between senses and surroundings. The pavilion is designed by the Berlin-based office Studio Other Spaces, founded by artist Olafur Eliasson and architect Sebastian Behmann through their shared interest in spatial experimentation. The canopy shelters a dedicated hospitality venue, forming a focal point of The Donum Estate while providing a scenic panoramic view of the San Pablo Bay, its Carneros Estate vineyards, and The Donum Collection, comprising some 50 works of site specific-sculpture and works of art.
Inspired by the history of circular calendars, the conical canopy is centered on a northern-oriented oculus and glazed with 832 colored laminated glass panels depicting yearly averages of the four meteorological parameters at the Estate – solar radiance, wind intensity, temperature, and humidity. The glass panels consist of 24 colors in variations of translucent and transparent hues, which resonate colors of the local environment in the Sonoma Valley. Vertical Panorama Pavilion is a synergy of art and architecture that manifests Studio Other Spaces’ vision of designing public spaces through interdisciplinary and experimental methodologies.
Wine-tasting experiences and other hospitality events will be hosted at the newly launched pavilion. It is a significant addition to the development of the Estate’s bespoke architectural experiences, which include a state-of-the-art production facility and hospitality center, Donum Home; and a white cube conservation space that houses Crouching Spider by Louise Bourgeois.
This pavilion perfectly blends our passions between wine, nature and art, design, and architecture. It is an achievement of our continuous effort to enhance the sensorial discovery of sight, sound, and scent experiences for all our guests. We first walked the land in 2019 with Olafur. The sun gave contrast to a spectrum of colors, we took a sip of our Pinot Noir, and at that moment, Vertical Panorama Pavilion was born. The pavilion finishes at a perfect time, as the vines bear their fruit. We are honored by the gift of the land and acknowledge we are temporary custodians of these historic and fertile lands of Sonoma. The Estate is blooming; our lavender field, cutting garden, greenhouse, and 50 monumental artworks grace the spaces in between. We are grateful to all the talented artists we have brought together as part of The Donum Collection. Through our shared passion for sustainability, we thank our friends Olafur and Sebastian for realizing Donum’s participation in the natural world.
said Mei and Allan Warburg, Owners of The Donum Estate
The microclimates that created it. The specific design elements are abstractions of components taken from a vertical slice through the pavilion’s location on the Estate. The pavilion maps out the surrounding ephemera – the soil, vegetation, wind, sun, atmosphere, and rain – and incorporates these into the colorful canopy, reflecting the wine’s unique signature.
added Olafur Eliasson and Sebastian Behmann, founders of Studio Other Spaces
We’re excited to unveil this landmark new pavilion inspired by Donum’s emphasis on terroir and the local environmental conditions. Donum is very much about community, and while we remain committed to producing the finest Pinot Noir in California, we also bring people together with shared passions for fine wine, cultural arts, design, and sustainability. Our integrated guest experiences offer an escape from the everyday with access to a renowned global art collection, sensorial wine tasting and the opportunity to learn about our portfolio of certified organic Estate vineyards, which combined have made our Carneros Estate an international destination.
commented Angelica de Vere-Mabray, Chief Executive Officer of The Donum Estate.
The project description is provided by the designers.
About the Designers
Studio Other Spaces (SOS) was founded by artist Olafur Eliasson and architect Sebastian Behmann in Berlin in 2014. The studio connects architecture and art through interdisciplinary and experimental building projects and artworks for public space. Their shared interest in spatial experimentation led them to the holistic approach that defines Studio Other Spaces. In their work, they continuously move between overall perspectives and on a highly detail-oriented level, exploring all aspects of a project through each stage of development – from before its inception, to its life or reuse. SOS projects foreground the atmospheric and intangible qualities of their specific locations; approach materiality through research and experimentation; and emphasize physical movement as a means to shape space. Rather than focusing on the design of isolated structures, Studio Other Spaces precisely choreographs environments that invite visitors to reflect on how they connect with their immediate surroundings.
