Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners has begun construction on a new whiskey distillery and visitor centre in Speyside, Scotland. Designed for The Macallan, a core brand of the major Scottish spirits producer Edrington. The proposed building is buried into the surrounding landscape of The Macallan Estate, revealing itself as a series of grass covered mounds overlooking the river Spey.
Read on after the break for more about the design
"Our design for the distillery and visitor centre celebrates the whisky-making process as well as the environment that has inspired it," says Graham Stirk, the lead architect on the project. "The design is essentially a series of a grass-covered undulating roof forms that are sympathetic to this Area of Great Landscape Value. Together we are creating a bespoke building for The Macallan that will further enhance the visitor experience whilst ensuring the on-going quality of this unique Single Malt."
The distillery and visitor centre will be constructed with the help of main contractor Robertson, and the Forsyths, the distillation plant manufacturers. "The collaboration between Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (RSHP), Robertson, and Forsyths brings together one of the world’s leading architects and the elite of Scottish craftsmen," says Ian Curle, Chief Executive of Edrington.
It is hoped that the new building will bring significant benefits to both the local and national economy. Completion of the building is scheduled for 2017.
