Most distillery buildings are built using existing buildings, but this site allows the designer full flexibility within the design. Whether to stick to the traditional typology of a distillery or to form a new contemporary design tying together the visitor experience and the distillation process? 

This project is to integrate and design a distillery and visitor center within the heart of Angus, in Brechin, which sits on the banks of the River Esk.

 

A building of two elements:
1.    Heavy base growing from the landscape
2.    Lightweight pavilions sitting on top

Each element tells a different story, each dictated by its function and tied together using skin. The relationship between these two elements is crucial, as the visitor experience relies on it marrying effortlessly. 

 

My main concept was to create several individual buildings that all connect in the subterranean level. Each building would relate to a different aspect of the site and to its function. The visitor center will run parallel to the main street and will have the same pitched roof form as its neighbour allowing the building to blend in an area that is mainly residential, minimising the visual impact on the local area. The Stillhouse is stepped off the main street, therefore its form of the building is purely dictated by function. This is an area where a lot of heat is produced, and instead of having a traditional chimney form, I propose using a double skin façade that will allow natural ventilation to occur. 

As this development will be on the site of an existing park area, I felt strongly about re-establishing this green space within the design. I have created a sunken courtyard in which the public can easily access via an external stair. The café building relates directly to the courtyard space, encouraging people to use the space and the café can also spill out into this area.  

Distillery buildings need a high volume of services and receive several deliveries a week. To ensure minimal disruption to the locals, all deliveries will be through a service area to the south which can be accessed via a private access road. Distillery buildings by nature use high volumes of energy and heat. I have looked at several sustainable energy sources to replace conventional methods: solar panels, wind turbines, solar thermal, Biomass boilers, CHP systems, and Ground source heat pumps; each of which has their pros and cons. Due to the high volume of plant, a large floor area has been assigned to the plant and service space. 

The opportunity for a whiskey trail through town, to all the existing visitor attractions, is something that can be beneficial to tourism within Brechin. People come from all over the world to observe and taste whiskey in its homeland.