Glencadam Distillery Visitor Centre showcased in AJ Specification
Featured in this month's AJ Specification, the Glencadam Distillery Visitor Centre demonstrates how contemporary architecture can celebrate industrial heritage while creating a vibrant new destination for visitors and the local community.
Designed for Angus Dundee Distillers to mark Glencadam’s 200th anniversary, the project reimagines the visitor experience within the historic distillery in Brechin, Angus. The new facilities bring together exhibition and interpretation spaces, tasting rooms, a whisky lounge, retail, a café and flexible event accommodation, while the adjacent VIP Suite cottage has been sensitively refurbished.
The architectural response draws directly from the industrial setting. One of its most distinctive features is the reinterpretation of Glencadam’s historic Doig Ventilators, originally installed in 1896 and 1915. Lost to fire, these recognisable forms have been reimagined as copper-clad roof features incorporating rooflights, reconnecting the building with its history while bringing natural daylight into the interior.
Material reuse establishes another strong connection with Brechin. Sandstone salvaged from the former Brechin Infirmary has been reused as the building envelope and landscape works, giving the stone a new purpose while retaining a tangible piece of local history. Alongside copper, timber and traditional slate, the material palette balances contemporary detailing with the character of the existing setting.
Reflecting on the project, Paul Smith, Architect at jmarchitects, said:
“We’re delighted to see Glencadam Distillery Visitor Centre featured in AJ Specification. The project was an opportunity to bring new life to the distillery’s historic setting, creating a contemporary visitor experience that celebrates its heritage and its connection to Brechin. Reinterpreting the historic Doig Ventilators and reusing sandstone from the former Brechin Infirmary allowed us to draw on the history of both the distillery and the town, giving the building a distinct identity rooted in its place.”
Thank you to the AJ Specification team for featuring Glencadam Distillery Visitor Centre as a case study, and to Angus Dundee Distillers and the wider project team for their collaboration in bringing the project to life.
Read the full case study in the Architects’ Journal :
Case study: Glencadam Distillery Visitor Centre by jmarchitects
For more information on this project: Glencadam Distillery Visitor Centre
Photography Credit: Keith hunter Photography
Credit: Paul Smith, jmarchitects
