Vinothek Iphofen
In the center of the Franconian winegrowing village of Iphofen, between the baroque town hall and the parish church of St. Veit, there is a building ensemble that combines historical and ultra-modern architecture in an exciting dialogue.
The starting point was a two-storey baroque estate that was once inhabited by the Sexton of Veitskirche. The city of Iphofen had the heritage-listed building from the 17th century renovated and added an extension. The aim was to create an engaging architectural framework in which the cultural and viticultural diversity of Iphofen could be suitably presented. The resulting complex, named "Vinothek Iphofen," houses around 600 m² of space on four levels encompassing rooms for wine presentation, the tourist information office, a gallery for temporary exhibitions, conference and seminar rooms. A wine bistro, vaulted cellar as well as a farmers’ shop selling regional produce complete the offer.
The vinotheque is in the new wing and here Iphöfer winegrowers present their white, red, rosé and sparkling wines, as well as their liqueurs and spirits. The architecture is a telling reflection of the region’s vintners: self-confident, grounded and internationally minded. This was the maxim followed by Walter Böhm from the architecture office Böhm + Kuhn in the neighboring town of Einersheim, as he planned the light, transparent steel and glass extension to the solid masonry of the baroque estate. Horizontal slats attached in front of the glass facade provide additional structure.
The striking new building uses the local quarry stone and half-timbered walls of the baroque inventory and integrates them harmoniously into the spatial concept. Interior designer Andreas Weber from Herrsching emphasizes the modern, clear and accentuated lines with his interior design. Floorboards made of Iphöfer red oak were laid on the upper floor - a type of wood that was initially considered a waste because of its mineral red discoloration, but was expressly requested by the council members and winegrowers as a local raw material. In fact its warm and inviting coloration can be attributed to the minerality in the soil.
Despite the contrast in styles, the historic Baroque stucco building and the light-flooded glass and steel construction harmonize with each other and radiate a cheerful atmosphere that invites you to linger - either in the tasting room of the vinotheque or on the terrace in the courtyard.
