New Macallan Distillery, designed by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners
22/05/2018.
[Kingussie - Scotland] UK
metalocus, ANTONIO G DE JUAN
metalocus, ANTONIO G DE JUAN
The new Macallan Distillery, designed by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, is cut into the hills of Speyside. The new facilities sits on the Easter Elchies estate in Scotland, which has been distilling the famous single malt whisky since 1824.
New Macallan Distillery by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Photograph by Joas Souza
New Macallan Distillery by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Photograph by Joas Souza
New Macallan Distillery by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Photograph by Joas Souza
New Macallan Distillery by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Photograph by Joas Souza
New Macallan Distillery by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Photograph by Joas Souza
New Macallan Distillery by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Photograph by Joas Souza
New Macallan Distillery by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Photograph by Joas Souza
New Macallan Distillery by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Photograph by Joas Souza
New Macallan Distillery by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Photograph by Joas Souza
New Macallan Distillery by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Photograph by Joas Souza
New Macallan Distillery by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Photograph by Joas Souza
New Macallan Distillery by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Photograph by Joas Souza
New Macallan Distillery by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Photograph by Joas Souza
New Macallan Distillery by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Photograph by Joas Souza
New Macallan Distillery by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Photograph by Joas Souza
New Macallan Distillery by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Photograph by Joas Souza
Aerial view, rendering. New Macallan Distillery by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Photograph by Joas Souza
Axonometric. New Macallan Distillery by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Photograph by Joas Souza
Site plan. New Macallan Distillery by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Photograph by Joas Souza
B4 Level plan. New Macallan Distillery by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Photograph by Joas Souza
B3 Level plan. New Macallan Distillery by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Photograph by Joas Souza
B1 Level plan. New Macallan Distillery by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Photograph by Joas Souza
Roof Level plan. New Macallan Distillery by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Photograph by Joas Souza
Elevations. New Macallan Distillery by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Photograph by Joas Souza
Section. New Macallan Distillery by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Photograph by Joas Souza
Cross section. New Macallan Distillery by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Photograph by Joas Souza
Detailed Section. New Macallan Distillery by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Photograph by Joas Souza
Detailed Section. New Macallan Distillery by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Photograph by Joas Souza
Detailed Plan. New Macallan Distillery by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Photograph by Joas Souza
Roof details. New Macallan Distillery by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Photograph by Joas Souza
Exterior view. New Macallan Distillery by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Photograph by Joas Souza
The green roof undulations, designed by RSHP, on the building seeks to reveal the brand’s production processes, the whisky stills situated below, while remaining sensitive to the surrounding landscape. Costing €160 million, the centrepiece of the whisky-making building is this rippling timber roof formed of 380,000 individual components, almost all different.
The new distillery will enable production of The Macallan to increase by a third if required.
‘The Macallan estate truly is a special place; a place we have come to love and respect hugely. The vision was always ambitious but this enabled us to challenge our own thinking to create something so dramatic and awe-inspiring. It has been an honour to play our part in shaping the next chapter for Macallan. We were always trying capture the words of the Macallan: The mystery revealed, the idea of being aware of something which is definitely manmade but is of landscape,’ says senior partner and lead architect Graham Stirk.
Description of project by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners
The new Macallan distillery and visitor experience is set into the landscape of the estate that has been distilling the world’s leading single malt since 1824. The Macallan is one of the most sought after whiskys in the world and wanted to create a building that could reveal the production processes and welcome visitors while remaining sensitive to the beautiful surrounding countryside.
The new distillery will enable production of The Macallan to increase by a third if required. Internally, a series of production cells are arranged in a linear format with an open-plan layout revealing all stages of the production process at once. These cells are reflected above the building in the form of a gently undulating timber roof. Grass-covered peaks rise and fall from The Macallan estate grounds, signaling to approaching visitors the activities housed beneath. Set into the naturally sloping contours of the site, the design makes direct references to ancient Scottish earthworks.
The visitor experience starts with an introduction to The Macallan in an exhibition and gallery area, before progressing through a sequence of spaces that follow the production story of the whisky. Natural materials – local stone, timber and the living meadow roof – as well as the landscaping design not only evoke the environment and ingredients of whisky production but also serve to provide an atmospheric journey for the visitor.
More information
Architects
Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners
Venue
Tromie Mills, Kingussie PH21 1NS, United Kingdom
Dates
Completed.- 2018
RICHARD ROGERS
Richard Rogers. (Florencia, July 23, 1933 - London, December 18, 2021) Since founding the practice in 1977, Richard Rogers has gained international reknown as an architect and urbanist. He is the 2007 Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate, recipient of the 1985 RIBA Gold Medal and the 2006 Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement (La Biennale di Venezia). He was knighted in 1991, made a life peer in 1996 and a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) in 2008.
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