New Photography Showcases the Glencadam Distillery Visitor Centre

We are delighted to share a new series of photographs of the completed Glencadam Distillery Visitor Centre and VIP Suite, captured by Keith Hunter.

Designed for Angus Dundee Distillers, the visitor centre creates a new public gateway to Glencadam Distillery, bringing together exhibition spaces, tasting rooms, whisky lounge, retail, café and flexible event spaces within a contemporary extension that complements the historic distillery complex. The new photography provides an opportunity to revisit a project that carefully balances contemporary architecture with the rich industrial heritage of one of Scotland's oldest working distilleries capturing material, craft and atmospheres that define the visitor experience.

Materiality was fundamental to the design approach. Every element was selected to establish a dialogue between old and new, allowing the extension to feel rooted in its context while expressing its own architectural identity. A restrained palette of materials - including stone, timber and copper echo the robust industrial character of the distillery, creating warm, tactile interiors that reflect the authenticity of whisky production.

Central to this approach is the extensive use of reclaimed sandstone salvaged from the former Brechin Infirmary. Rather than specifying newly quarried material, the project sought to preserve a valuable piece of the town's architectural heritage by carefully reusing the stone within the new visitor centre and landscape works significantly reducing the environmental impact associated with quarrying and transporting new stone.

Beyond its sustainability benefits, the reused sandstone establishes a tangible connection between two important local landmarks. The material carries with it the history of Brechin, embedding a sense of continuity and place within the new building., which sits naturally alongside the historic fabric of the distillery, helping the contemporary intervention feel as though it has always belonged within the site.

Another defining architectural feature is the reinterpretation of the iconic Doig Ventilators, reintroduced as sculptural rooflights that acknowledge Glencadam's distilling heritage while bringing generous levels of natural daylight deep into the visitor spaces. This combination of heritage-inspired form carefully considered detailing and robust materials creates interiors that are both welcoming and distinctly connected to the identity of the distillery.

"Keith Hunter's photography captures the project with exceptional sensitivity, revealing the richness of the reclaimed stone, the changing qualities of natural light throughout the day, and the dialogue between the historic distillery buildings and the contemporary architectural intervention. The images beautifully convey both the visitor experience and the project's role as a respectful addition to a working distillery that continues to evolve."

— Paul Smith, Architect, jmarchitects

For more information on this project: Glencadam Distillery Visitor Centre

Photography / Imagery Credit: Keith Hunter Photography

Credit: Paul Smith, jmarchitects