NEO Architects Crafted a Blend of Heritage and Timelessness for Kanonkop
Built on a history of artillery practices from centuries gone by, the cellar at Kanonkop (and the estate itself) holds a fascinating story. The estate is named after the 17th- and 18th-century tradition of firing a cannon from the Simonsberg Mountain to announce arriving ships in Table Bay. Artillery being a key part of this era, the building is now a cellar embraced by small windows mimicking the strategic openings for shooting during early settlements. With the new design by NEO Architects, the nostalgia of these elements remains while the space humbly steps into a new chapter in its history.
A backdrop of heritage
The windows play a beneficial role in the cellar’s design, maintaining a cool temperature inside which is ideal for the production and storage of exceptional wines. As a working wine cellar open to visitors, the space blurs the boundaries between business and pleasure. The inner workings of winemaking are subtly on display, with the new interiors enhancing the sight rather than overbearing it. The result is a significant backdrop of context to the warm public tasting room, a highly regarded vinothèque, and a unique private tasting room.
Along with the atmosphere of the working wine cellar, the client also wanted visitors to feel like they are on a family farm (as opposed to a commercial farm), welcoming them into a homely space. Simplicity was the order of the day, and there was no place for anything excessive in the interiors and finishes.
Showcasing the cellar
In the main tasting room, the existing arches and slatted natural timber ceilings are strong characteristics of the original interior. NEO Architects used this as a guide for including timber as a primary material throughout. For the private tasting room and vinothèque, frameless glass doors create an effortless flow between the spaces both visually and kinetically. As guests experience the intimate wine haven, ageing barrels are in view and the movement of forklifts and workers in the cellar put on a show of exquisite skill and tradition. The display and reserve of wine bottles in the cellar were central to all the joinery, which was carefully workshopped with the joiners and the client to execute an elegant balance of both showcase and storage.
The preservation of tradition
NEO’s task may seem straightforward at first glance, until you learn that the facility had to remain in use for the duration of the construction. The project had to be divided into phases, with certain areas closed off as the work progressed. Also essential to the final result was the structural requirements of the space. A working cellar uses sizeable equipment, but typically cellars don’t cater to forklifts moving through the walkways. Nevertheless, the team was committed to the successful execution of the brief and the final product reflects exactly that. Further supporting the preservation of the space’s history, much of the original antique furniture was reused, with the interior renovation respecting rather than alienating the sentiment of the previous design styles.
As light filters through the narrow, history-laden windows of Kanonkop’s cellar, it illuminates not just the bottled labours of love, but centuries of resilience, tradition, and reinvention. The space now hums with a different rhythm: that of tradition being both honoured and reimagined. Kanonkop, through its transformation, offers more than wine; it offers an enduring testament to the art of evolving without forgetting the past.
This article is an extract from our 2024/25 Coffee Table Edition. Click here to read the full issue.
