Nells Park Hotel, Vinothek 1861 - Trier (GER)

project Conversion of the historical Roman cellar of the listed manor house into a wine room client Thomas Pütter and Denise Kraft-Pütter complete architecture phases WW+, Esch-sur-Alzette/Trier (LUX/GER) gfa 165 m² gv 500 m³ planning phase 05/2013 - 06/2013 realisation 06/2013 - 09/2013

The first of the two conversion, respectively extension, phases of the four-star “Nells Park Hotel” in Trier involved the renovation of the hotel lobby, reception, bar and conservatory, as well as the guest toilet facilities in the basement. The first building phase also saw the historical Roman cellar of the listed manor house being converted into a wine room. The Nells Park Hotel can thus add another attraction to its name, providing wine aficionados and hotel guests with a compelling experience of Moselle wine. The wine room is located in the original vaulted cellar of the manor house, which was built in 1861. While converting the vaulted cellar, the original slate walls were discovered and restored. Featuring a glazed air-conditioned wine cellar, high-quality materials and exclusive furnishings, a new gastronomic centrepiece was thus created.

It all started with a room that was used only to a limited extent as a storage area due to excessively damp walls, a room that had previously been used as the hotel bar. The initial task was to renovate this cellar space so as to provide an improved storage area for catering purposes and to create a common room for staff. The removal of the existing mould-infested plaster during the building project uncovered exposed walls revealing slate masonry. As a result of the obvious high craftsmanship of the masonry, it was decided to leave the walls exposed and to open up the vaulted cellar to visitors and guests. The original room layout (storage area, staff room) was enhanced by a glazed walk-in wine refrigerator for exclusive wine tastings, fronted by an events space including a service kitchen. The objective was to retain the charm of the slate environment through minimal intervention. A differentiated interaction of colour and light and the simplicity of a clear solution have turned the small wine room into a successful environment for wine tasting.

New building components featuring the classic materials of wood, glass and stone in a modern interpretation provide an unobstructed view onto the historical site and thus achieve a balanced dialogue between historical and modern buildings. In this interplay of the traditional and the modern, today’s age of globalisation calls for typicity in many respects: such as historical relevance, ancient monuments, architecture, cultural events, but also subjective dimensions such as the experience of wine, nostalgia, mysticism. To cater for all the above and at the same time support a regional wine experience, a central place is called for, in which the typicity of the Moselle wine meets history while also representing the wine product in other areas of culture. This central place, where wine tasting is directly linked to culture, where the history of wine can be experienced and where a visit is enriched through discerning additional attractions and information, elevates the Vinothek 1861 display cabinet into the iconic category of Moselle wine. The design of the room stimulates all the senses and thus has a positive impact on the wine experience.

photographs by Nells Park Hotel