The Spirit Haven
The Spirit Haven is a whisky distillery that embodies the concept of a “breathing building”. By making the building porous and open to nature, it creates opportunities for visitors to breathe through quality ventilation coupled with a visual connection with nature.
In line with the Making Atelier design position, the impetus behind my distillery design was founded through a series of explorative models. It was this generative process that made me realise my passion for creating breathing spaces in buildings. Model making was also an integral part of my design process, influencing a majority of my decisions in respect of The Spirit Haven.
The Spirit Haven sits on the historical site of Cloughbank Farms. The Visitor Centre intersects with the existing buildings to provide a contrast to the farmhouse brick walls. The distillery and the bistro are spread across the site to recreate the courtyard effect of the Cloughbank Farms.
To facilitate a visitor’s journey through the whisky distilling process, the distillery experience was split into separate buildings. Furthermore, the architecture surrounding the distillery was designed with the purpose of highlighting the distilling process, while providing a connection to nature within the building.
“Breathing pockets” (i.e., pockets of greenery) are scattered across the landscape. They are hidden in between the different spaces, visible only to those who journey through The Spirit Haven. These breathing pockets also supply the building with fresh air through the porous building fabric.
In this way, The Spirit Haven is a “breathing distillery”, which allows for its users to breathe.
