Concrete and steel: materials that stand the test of time

In Moinard Bétaille’s work, concrete and steel are materials of truth and durability. They seek neither fashionable effects nor immediate appeal; they establish a timeless framework capable of accompanying an experience, an exceptional product or a long-term use.

Their presence is thoughtful, sensory, never ostentatious. It anchors each project in a strong, confident material reality. This approach started on the occasion of the renovation of the Château Latour wine cellars, a seminal project in the world of wine. In Pauillac, in the heart of a landscape where the vineyards meet the Garonne, concrete was the obvious choice. The aim was not to introduce spectacular modernity, but to preserve the simplicity and rigour of the building, its horizontality amid the vines, and to transform the interior with precision.

Concrete dominates, ennobled by its shape. Formwork-finished and textured, it catches the light and reveals its variations throughout the day. It takes on the shades of the riverbanks, evoking the mud and almost pinkish silt of the Garonne. It does not copy nature; it extends its memory. This mineral material creates a dense atmosphere in these places where juice is transformed into wine, and wine into vintage.
Steel provides a counterpoint. The stainless steel of the vats, the precision of the guardrails and the clean lines of the technical equipment introduce a graphic and constructive rigour. The dialogue between the mineral density of the concrete and the precision of the steel embodies an alchemy comparable to that of wine: rootedness and innovation, permanence and mastery.

At Château Troplong Mondot, this grammar is deployed on a new scale. The deep-set cellar takes the shape of an inverted cathedral. The concrete walls do not imitate stone; they evoke its history through a structured and faceted surface treatment. Light penetrates in narrow rays, revealing the texture of the material and creating a contemplative atmosphere. Steel, present in the equipment and circulation areas, affirms the technical dimension without breaking the unity of the whole.

Photos : Clos de Tart, Morey-Saint-Denis, France, 2023 • Château Troplong Mondot, Saint-Émilion, France, 2021 • © Jacques Pépion