Mutigny Resort Hotel | Jouin Manku

Inspired by the natural beauty of the site overlooking the vine covered hills of France’s Champagne region, Studio Jouin Manku has designed, built and delivered a new spa hotel in Mutigny. Frances ‘terroir’ is at the heart of wine production and this architectural project. Making the most of the sites gifts, Studio Jouin Manku used a limited pallet of natural materials to build a dedicated venue for the exploration of one of the countries most iconic exports, Champagne. Unlike the grande palaces usually associated with champagne, this venue is raw and honest - an homage to the work, passion, and knowledge that goes into the wine. At it essence, the goal was the discreet insertion of a 101 rooms hotel/spa into the landscape. The architecture assures a constant visual connection to its surroundings - from the forest and it’s un-dergrowth, to the horizon with its valleys and hillsides covered in vines, in between.

Two connected blocs, one dedicated to social interactions; transparent and light, with the welcom-ing warmth of a central fireplace and the light sculpture rising through the monumental staircase the suggestion is clear-champagne!

This public space is joined to a second more vertical volume con-taining the hotel rooms where the views through the tree canopy are more intimate. Like the basement, the roof too is in concrete, but vegetalised. Floor to ceiling glass on each level assures the interiors panoramic connection to the hotels immediate environment and regional views beyond. Clad in wood, the building is an architectural and cultural extension of the surrounding forest. Drawing on the historical tradition of storing champagne in the chalk and salt mines left behind by the Romans, the hotel is can be accessed either via a cave like undercroft at the rear of the hotel or from the parking area. Designed as a prelude to the light filled discovery that follows, the ‘public’ level is a free flowing multipurpose space oriented around a central light filled patio, and panoramic views over the region. Reception, tasting tables, bar, restaurant and even seminar spaces all merge in-front of the spectacle of the sites natural beauty.

FIRE PLACE FOR TASTE AND SHARE

A central fire place invites the visitor to participate in the time-honoured ritual of warm exchanges before venturing towards a final destination- seminar, fine dining, tasting or rest. Whilst the brut nature of the structural concrete is in evidence on this level, it is significantly warmed with verticality of oak panels that line the interior mezzanine level, and the sustainable poplar wood on the buildings exterior. Oak too on the floor contrasts with the mineral nature of black marble helping to define the bar and fireplace areas. All fixed elements of furniture, the purpose specific organically shaped bars and tasting tables were designed by Studio Jouin Manku. The characteristic details of leather and brass touches complete a bespoke aspect of fixed furnishings. Metal and glass complete the limited pallet of natural materials used. A monumental staircase invites the visitor to climb through the levels, experiencing the views from a different perspective, and perhaps to seek more intimate socialising on the mezzanine level. The dining areas are in two speeds. ‘The Chefs table’ designed by Studio Jouin Manku is a modular series of raised dining tables located near the restaurants core-its kitchen. Designed to promote intense personal interactions between food professionals and guests over produce, diners can either stand around the high tables (for tastings or buffet self-service) or sit on retractable stools concealed in the tables body. Custom designed overhead bar lighting ensures perfect illumination of the subject at hand. This area also doubles as buffet as required.

A WINDOW ON CHAMPAGNE

The restaurant’s more traditional dining is on the periphery of the space near the bay windows making the most of the views. The concrete structure creates intimate dining areas and frames the exterior view. The ceiling, also in formed concrete is softened with floating oak sound panels. Wood and leather bench seating along the walls is complimented with more traditional seating, adaptable to different configurations. All restaurant areas use earthenware ceramics on the floor and walls, a nod and a wink towards laboratory nature of gastronomic food production. Wood and leather bench seating along the walls is complimented with more traditional seating, adaptable to different configurations. All restaurant areas use earthenware ceramics on the floor and walls, a nod and a wink towards laboratory nature of gastronomic food production.

AN INTIMATE SETTING IN NATURE

101 bedrooms in either standard, executive or suite style are furnished entirely with designs by Studio Jouin Manku realised in oak, wool, linen, leather. Custom wardrobe handles in the form of Vine wood are cast in metal. Orientated towards the exterior, the architecture is careful to ensure that only the view is visible from each room.

SPA AND WELLNESS

The spa and wellness areas located in the bottom level of the building use a chalk toned render on the walls and vertical surfaces recalling the particular soil characteristics of the champagne region. Blue slate coloured floor ceramics also make a subtle link to terroir. The pool traverses the building envelope with both indoor and outdoor access extending its seasonal functionality by many months. We have realised an architecture whose contoured and transparent form rises out of the sites topography. An uncommon and yet honest departure from the usual context in which champagne is appreciated, the buildings purpose is to promote the diversity and beauty of Champagne’s terroir. The design carefully navigates the sites natural attributes, and an interior design scheme that is at one and the same time, functional, natural, and stylish. A meeting place where local actors in the Champagne region, and visitors alike can come and express their ideas, and taste all that the region has to offer in the beauty of its true context. The coherence between an idea and the architecture is evident.