Hennessy Village, between the vineyards and the distillery

Visitors arrive on foot from the car park. The paths converge towards the top of an embankment, which forms a shared forecourt, before a jetty marks the entrance. This elevated point acts as a pivot: from here, the building unfolds in two directions, towards the garden below and upwards to the upper floors. The slope, the natural terrain and the building’s floor level blend seamlessly, allowing visitors to move gradually from the landscape into the architecture. Once the threshold is crossed, the sequence is reversed: the rooms first open onto the garden, then, further on, onto the wider landscape. The architects conceived this approach as a carefully choreographed welcome, reflecting the tradition of hospitality associated with cognac. In the hall, tall wooden posts rise from a light-coloured stone floor, immediately establishing the character of the space: a straightforward structure, left exposed, and volumes that breathe.

The building comprises three distinct layers: a plinth, a main volume and a roof structure. The plinth delicately establishes the relationship with the ground. The timber structure rests lightly upon it, leaving the natural ground undisturbed and making the intervention reversible. This transitional space provides shelter from the elements, a circulation route and a place to pause and contemplate. Above, the main volume follows a regular structural grid, punctuated by the gallery of walkways. Finally, the roof structure draws the eye upwards. The elevated canopy crowns the building, extending the roof beyond its façades. Its underside is painted a deep red, chosen to evoke the amber hues of cognac, and is visible when looking up from the walkways. Viewed from the vineyards, the building’s silhouette is reduced to a series of long horizontal lines, resting on the landscape with the simplicity of a traditional wine storehouse.

Each of the large façades responds to a different landscape. To the south, the building opens onto the surrounding vineyards. The walkways running along its length become living spaces where teams can meet and work together, while their depth provides shade for the offices and helps protect them from solar gain. Between the wooden posts, the rows of vines and the line of the hillsides come together to form a series of picturesque scenes. To the north, the atmosphere changes. A shared courtyard garden brings the site’s activities together around a reflecting pool, where architecture and nature complement one another. The open-plan spaces connect the two façades. Each room therefore benefits from dual aspect, with two sources of natural light and contrasting views: one towards the distant vineyards, the other onto the more intimate and tranquil inner garden. Air also circulates from one façade to the other, providing natural ventilation.

Inside, the structure is laid bare. Prefabricated in modules, it features a clear grid of exposed wooden posts and beams. The circulation spaces take their character from this exposed structure. Conceived as rooms in their own right, these spaces organise the posts into long colonnades, reminiscent of a hypostyle hall, while opening up uninterrupted perspectives from one end of the building to the other, punctuated by views of the landscape. The route becomes a stroll. Coffee stops, alcoves and communal tables dot the way, inviting people to pause and strike up a conversation. The House’s various professions intersect here throughout the day – including the work of the ‘nose’ – while knowledge and expertise are passed on from one space to the next. The regularity of the grid gives the layout its clarity and allows it to evolve with changing uses, as the organisation of the offices can be reconfigured over the years.

At either end of the building, the regular grid gives way to a series of principal spaces, conceived by the architects as key moments in the overall experience. The Place du Village spans two storeys beneath amber-coloured glass. Serving as the site’s restaurant, it also functions as a public square where staff gather. Large circular pendant lights float above the tables; red panels high up echo the canopy, while the wooden floor extends right up to the counter. Other rooms are dedicated to the House’s expertise. The eaux-de-vie counter welcomes winegrowers. The tasting room offers the privacy and focus that the task requires. Finally, the dining room is designed to accommodate both entertaining and working, in an understated setting. On the walls, large black-and-white archival prints show men at work among the barrels, linking these new spaces to more than two and a half centuries of history.

Wood gives the space its character. Chosen for its structural qualities, timber remains a defining feature throughout. Its fibres, knots and the rhythm of its planks give the walls a tactile presence, appealing equally to the eye and the touch. This choice resonates with winemaking culture, where the wood of the barrels accompanies the ageing of the eaux-de-vie. Developed in collaboration with Meta Acoustique, the acoustic design gives the building a sense of calm, making silence an integral part of the spatial experience. The building envelope, developed in collaboration with Loft4, and its energy performance reinforce this approach. The project adheres to the HQE Excellent and E+C- environmental standards. In the evening, the windows light up against the wooden façade. Facing the vineyards, the Village takes on the amber hue of the spirits tasted there.