Bodegas Faustino Winery Extension by Foster + Partners: A Sustainable Landmark in Rioja Alavesa

The Bodegas Faustino Winery in Oyón-Oion, Spain, has entered a new chapter with an ambitious extension designed by Foster + Partners. Commissioned by the fourth generation of the Martínez Zabala family, the project expands and reimagines one of Rioja Alavesa’s most iconic wineries through a vision centered on sustainability, landscape integration, and visitor experience. Completed in 2024, the extension includes a new visitor center, extensive refurbishment of existing facilities, and a revitalized connection between architecture, vineyard, and production processes.

The project reflects Foster + Partners’ longstanding relationship with the Martínez Zabala family, following their previous collaboration on Bodegas Portia in 2010. Norman Foster emphasized that the design “knits together the entire site with discreet, sustainable interventions” while offering an immersive and contemporary identity for Bodegas Faustino. The architecture balances heritage and innovation, ensuring that the winery continues to evolve while preserving its deep-rooted winemaking legacy.

At the heart of the project is a redefined arrival sequence. The main entrance has been shifted to the northern edge of the property, allowing visitors to encounter the vineyard before engaging with the built environment. This intentional shift transforms the winery experience into a narrative journey where wine, nature, culture, and architecture merge seamlessly. A gentle pathway leads toward the newly constructed visitor center, conceived as the primary architectural protagonist of the site.

The new visitor center is designed as a vaulted, column-free hall that offers a generous, flexible interior. Its roof structure is inspired by the winery’s industrial origins yet reinterpreted with contemporary lightness through timber arches. The anti-funicular geometry enhances structural efficiency while minimizing material use, resulting in an elegant form that harmonizes with the earthy tones of the landscape. Inside, the space is organized around an asymmetrical core connecting the lower level with an upper mezzanine. This elevated platform opens panoramic views across the hall and the surrounding vineyard, reinforcing the continuity between inside and outside.

Designated as a “Planet 1.0” building, the visitor center embodies exemplary environmental performance. Photovoltaic panels on the roof generate more energy than the building consumes, with surplus energy redistributed to existing winery structures. Deep overhangs mitigate solar gain while visually extending the architecture into the natural surroundings. A central skylight, paired with strategically placed glazed façades, floods the interior with daylight and reduces reliance on artificial lighting. Natural materials and biophilic design principles enhance sensory comfort, supporting a healthy environment for both visitors and staff.

The surrounding landscape has been thoughtfully reconfigured to promote ecological resilience. Local plant species boost biodiversity, while subtle topographic adjustments protect the site from increasingly intense rainfall events. The extended landscaping also integrates seamlessly with existing buildings, which have been enhanced through added greenery to reduce solar exposure and overall energy demand.

The extension also improves functional performance across the winery. Relocated loading bays and a reorganized harvest control area streamline production logistics. Underused structures have been removed to create flexibility for future expansions and technological upgrades, ensuring that Bodegas Faustino can continue adapting to evolving winemaking practices.

The result is a refined, future-focused intervention that unifies architecture, sustainability, and heritage. Foster + Partners’ design reinforces the Martínez Zabala family’s generational commitment to the land while elevating Bodegas Faustino as one of Spain’s most forward-looking and environmentally responsible wineries. Select an Image