SUSTAINABLE & STYLISH, REDESIGNING MODERN WINERIES
Sobels Winery has a long standing history within the Hunter Valley Region, and the Sobels Brand is known as wine making royalty throughout Australia, with a multi-generational history of wine making.
When our client approached us with the desire to conceptualise a new future for the site the Hot Black team jumped at the opportunity.
With working vines on the site, the client’s desire was to maximise the potential of the site through the creation of new accommodation villas. The site is located along the main thoroughfare through Pokolblin and is known for hosting the weekend handmade markets, With distant views to surrounding hills, a large portion of the site was under-utilised.
During the concept phase Hot Black attended site to gain a greater understanding of the opportunities and constraints. Much of the design was inspired by the site itself, the location of dams, trees and the topography of the land.
A new pavilion housing a cellar door, restaurant and event space was created with a stabilised rammed earth wall running down the spine of the building. Sustainability was the main driver of the design, and all aspects of the design look to maximise the building’s orientation, capturing cool breezes off the dam during summer and using thermal massing to heat the building in winter. An edible green roof is intended to supply the commercial kitchen with fresh herbs and vegetables, whilst also regulating the temperate of solar panels to maximise their efficiency.
The villas have taken inspiration from the traditional skillion roofed longhouse and given it a contemporary twist, with steep roofs and punctured windows to frame views out towards the landscape. With a combination of one and two bedroom units, 23 units have been spread across 8 buildings, located close to the vines to capture the peaceful breathtaking scenery.
Hot Black acknowledges the traditional owners, the Wonnarua people of the Coquun Nation, on whose land we meet, share and work.