The LAN-4 was an architectural project by oe architect standing in the middle of a Spanish vineyard for only one year, however, its ephemerality was intended since day one. This project was created for the Concentrico 06, part of the Festival of Architecture and Design of Logroño, Spain, having been born from the utmost respect for the iconic figure of a wine bottle. This peculiar and elongated figure with the elegant touch of glass created the concept, and the result is purely a tribute to the quality and prestige of wine.
The structure takes the shape of a tower covered in mirrors, having such a unique form that it quickly became a landmark on the edge of one of Viña Lanciano‘s plots. The tower reflects the landscape covered in vineyards, bathed by the Ebro River, and splashed by the Mantible Bridge. As a finishing touch, the tower’s interior is made out of a light brown tone, much like Vince’s branches, made possible by Garnica wood, creating a bold contrast with the mirrored exterior.
This ephemeral 7.5-metre landmark celebrates wine through its mirror façade, as it both reflects the wine-producing land and resembles the glass of wine bottles. The use of mirrors means that the reflections change throughout the day and year, making the structure a constant companion of the life course of the vineyards and of the wine itself.
LAN-4 did not seek to compete with the landscape of Viña Lanciano; its goal was to create dialogues, frame the landscape, and live within it. When approached, the structure brings the mountains closer to the viewer, however, in the distance, it merges with the landscape. The tower is, therefore, a poetic element that, depending on the point of standing, shows a facet of its location. When one stands within the structure and looks up, the sky appears from an opening at the top, making visitors feel like they’ve entered a different world: surrounded by vineyards and inside a bottle where outside there’s only sky.
On an interesting note, according to the Spanish Festival organisers, the project was going to be withdrawn at the end of the festival, but the visitors and their loved ones liked it so much that they decided to leave it for a year in the vineyard. Afterwards, the project was presented again at the Festival’s seventh edition, having been withdrawn from Viña Lanciano in the end. Up until now, it is the ephemeral proposal that has lasted the longest.
Photos: Josema Cutillas
