, for the group before). For this scheme, the architects won the commission through a shortlisted competition and jumped into action, researching and working closely with Moradpour and the whisky brand’s experts to perfect their concept. With the existing 19th century complex receiving the appropriate restoration works where needed, the team focused on adding just the right amount of drama with the new element – the shining new tower, which the team refers to as the Lighthouse.
‘We wanted to establish a new relationship between the historic distillery and take advantage of the beautiful scenery,’ says Barthélémy. ‘We also wanted to balance tradition and modernity in the materials and construction, so the new tower is wrapped in glass and with timber construction. This way it also celebrates the stills, which can be seen through the façade.’
Finding the right scale for the tower was a challenge. ‘It needed to act as a symbol but also we didn’t want to impose something big to the old distillery,’ says Barthélémy. But now, the result gently peeks out from among the green grass and rolling hills surrouning the site. The Lighthouse includes a sensory lab and testing room, which spills out to a large terrace that visually expands the facilities into the surrounding Scottish countryside and the water beyond.
In the same forward-thinking approach, the scheme was concieved with key sustainability elements too. For example, the tower will be fully powered by bio-gas, which comes from the distillation process and is produced on site – adding an important element of circularity to the scheme. The result is now ready and operational, and while it’s not open to the public, its glowing beacon offers a mark of innovation and positivity for the brand and the wider area. ‘It is a building dedicated to experimentation,’ says Moradpour. ‘It’s a place for our master distiller to be innovative and envision what whisky might taste like in a few years. And the building being taller than the rest of the complex makes it a symbol of looking to the future and looking far.