Sou Fujimoto has built the pavilion Nicolas Ruinart, a recently opened visitors center at the historic champagne house Maison Ruinart in Reims, France. The building is part of a three-year renovation programme with cultural development as its core objective. 

The pavilion, proudly serving as a cultural hub for visitors, stands boldly out against the older 19th-century architecture. It’s planned around a central courtyard and is made of local Soissons stone topped with a wooden roof which sweeps in a concave curve to evoke the “roundness of a champagne bubble.” The glass facade is mainly opaque at the top, but progresses despotically into translucent towards the bottom, giving off an impression of “bubbling champagne.” 

As Ruinart noted, “The curves of this new construction contrast with the straight lines of the historic buildings,” thus pointing to how the pavilion blends well with its centuries-old background. The design allows a lively dialogue between modernity and tradition, pointing to the unique asymmetric form of the pavilion. 

It has evolved sustainable features integrated into its design. The building has a green roof and utilizes a rainwater harvesting system. Additionally, geothermal energy and a grid of solar panels provide 80 percent of this pavilion’s energy needs. 

The 7,000-square-meter garden built by landscape artist Christophe Gautrand surrounds the pavilion and is designed to foster local biodiversity. It houses a sequence of site-specific artworks and sculptures. “The history of Ruinart and the Champagne region is echoed in every detail of the landscaping,” Gautrand said. Here, the outdoor spaces create a scenographic path which engages your senses and prompts emotional responses. 

Inside, a bright entrance hall frames views of the main courtyard through the glazed facade of the pavilion. “Through the pavilion’s bay window, facing the main courtyard, you see Maison Ruinart in the most beautiful form.” Fujimoto said. The open-plan reception, bar, and boutique feature stone-tiled flooring and wood furnishings with sliding doors onto an external terrace. 

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