Studio Other Spaces, Olafur Eliasson and Sebastian Behmann 

Olafur Eliasson is one of the two founders of Studio Other Spaces. Together with the architect Sebastian Behmann, he has been combining architecture and art since 2014. The Berlin office unites both interdisciplinary and experimental building projects and artworks in public spaces. In addition to various projects around the world, Eliasson and Behmann have also designed the new pavilion for the Donum Estate.

Vertical Panorama Pavilion: as special as the wine

The Vertical Panorama Pavilion is as extraordinary as the wine on the Donum Estate. Visitors enter the circular structure via a winding path in the landscape, and all around, the exterior blurs with the interior. The shape of the pavilion is inspired by the history of circular calendars. Twelve stainless steel columns support the conical roof construction. This is the visual highlight of the pavilion. 832 coloured laminated glass panels glisten in the sun above the visitors and cast their colourful shadows on the floor and the furnishings. The panels reflect the surroundings in 24 transparent and translucent shades. The horizontal layers of the landscape thus create a kind of vertical panorama in the glazed roof. The colours abstractly stand for various meteorological parameters and all the components that help to produce the special wine: solar radiation, wind, temperature, humidity, atmosphere, soil and rain.

The pavilion will also focus on the wine: In the future, tastings and other hospitality events will take place here. Guests from all over the world can enjoy a panoramic view of San Pablo Bay, the surrounding vineyards, lavender fields, the estate and the artworks of the famous Donum Collection.

The Donum Collection

After its establishment in 2011, the Donum Collection is now one of the largest accessible private sculpture collections in the world. It comprises over 50 monumental works that are set up in the open on the grounds. The sculptures and installations are the works of world-renowned artists, including Ai Weiwei, Lynda Benglis, Ghada Amer, Doug Aitken, Louise Bourgeois, Keith Haring and Subodh Gupta. One of the most famous examples is Bourgeois’ “Crouching Spider”. The pavilion now occupies the former site of Keith Haring’s work “King and Queen”. The latter was moved to make room for the new construction.

The pavilion thus perfectly combines a passion for wine, nature, art, design, architecture and culture. Waiting under the roof are two circular tasting rooms with tables and benches that can seat up to twelve guests at a time. The pavilion is scheduled to open in autumn 2022. Visitors from all over the world with the same interests can come together there, forget everyday life for a while and immerse themselves in the special experience with all their senses.

Just like around the Vertical Panorama Pavillon, Landscapes play an important role in many aspects of architecture and urban planning. How does one become a landscape architect? And what topics does a landscape architecture degree include? Find out here: study landscape architecture