Wine Estate Valke Vleug

Vincent Van Duysen Architects

Liezele, Achterheide 21

2020

Wine Estate

Wine and architecture is probably a heavenly combination for some. For me it’s a bit different, because I hardly drink any wine. The architecture of Vincent Van Duysen is enough for me. A Christmas present allowed me to experience the vineyard tour and wine tasting on this location.

Vinetiq

This project is a collaboration between Vinetiq, a store for Belgian wines and an importer of mainly cool climate wines, and the architectural firm of Vincent Van Duysen. A few years ago it started with Pieter Raeymakers’ dream to produce Belgian wine himself. Raeymakers thus meets Jan Van Lancker, who had bought a dilapidated farmhouse with asparagus fields in Liezele, the beginning of this story…

Vincent Van Duysen

The architect is known for his use of pure and tactile materials. Here too, a dark roof covering and dark wooden accents have been used that contrast with the greenery of the surroundings. Van Duysen wanted to refer to the old farms of this neighborhood with his use of wood. In addition, concrete and lava stones have also been used to pave the site. This is in line with the earthiness of the environment.

Poetry

The atypical nature of the assignment in combination with the poetic, rural character immediately fascinated me. In recent years, wine estates abroad have enjoyed great architectural interest, but in Belgium it is still unique. It is a privilege to have been able to realize this assignment.

(Vincent Van Duysen)

An old oak and Valke Vleug

In addition to the buildings, the old oak tree is a protagonist in the project. It is a central anchor point on the domain that counterbalances the residential tower, provides shade for the horse track and serves as a beacon for the horizontal vineyard. And then of course there is also the Valke Loop, a river with the former name Valke Vleug. This seems less present but is an important part of the project because it runs through the wine estate, drains the excess water and also closes off the functional zone of the yard on the fourth side from the surrounding nature.

(Vincent Van Duysen)

Roof Terrace

Unfortunately, on the day of my visit, the weather was not good, with some rain, and we could not sit on the roof terrace. I think it would be wonderful to view the surroundings here on a sunny and warm day with a drink, wine or not.