A barrel vault built to age wine — and define a place.
Giusti Wine asked us to build the vaulted ceiling for their barrel aging room in Nervesa della Battaglia, Treviso. The space — roughly 20 by 15 metres — is dedicated to aging Recantina, an indigenous variety from the Montello hills, for 14 months in large barrels and barriques.
We built a continuous antique reclaimed brick barrel vault that runs the full length of the room. The lateral lunettes introduce a quiet rhythm along the walls, while custom-designed arches and column bases structure the space and draw the eye toward the tasting area. A glass partition separates the barricaia from the adjacent room without interrupting the view.
The exposed brickwork, the warm light, and the orderly rows of barrels come together in an atmosphere that feels composed and coherent — where the architecture doesn't compete with the cellar, but supports it.
The choice of brick is not purely aesthetic. The natural properties of the material provide spontaneous regulation of temperature and humidity, creating the ideal microclimate for wine aging. Combined with effective acoustic and thermal insulation, the result is a cellar built not only to be seen — but to work.
