To meet increasing demand for its products, Woodinville Whiskey in Quincy, Washington needed a larger facility to process and age its whiskey. A 10-acre site set amidst the fields of grain used to produce the company’s whiskey was selected for a multi-phase expansion that consolidates operations as well as provides space for continued development. The initial phase of the expansion features a processing and bottling building, which also houses new corporate offices, and a barrel rickhouse for aging the whiskey.

 

Design Philosophy

The large-scale buildings range from 12 to 21 meters-wide by 120 meters-long, establishing a monumental presence within the fields that surround the site. Despite their size, the structures are an exercise in restraint, taking design inspiration from the simple agricultural and industrial warehouses found in the region, as well as from traditional ricking houses found throughout the American South. Inspired by the distillery’s production and tasting facility in Woodinville, Washington, the client’s directive required balancing functional and industrial requirements while clearly conveying the Woodinville Whiskey brand. Architectural forms are simple, with functional aspects such as vehicle circulation as well as loading and unloading dictating the site’s layout and the buildings’ scale.

 

Functional Layout & Construction

Leveraging the economy of prefabricated metal buildings, a series of manufactured structures provided a cost-effective way to create ample amounts of space, while still preserving opportunities for customization. During the building process, the entry is defined by a slim canopy that appears to fold up and peel away from the building, revealing a corten-clad inner core and a large off-center pivot door. The transition between office and process areas is demarcated with a long vertical window that folds from wall to ceiling, transforming into a skylight. Horizontal windows on the north wall of the processing area frame the adjacent agricultural landscape and farmstead. An array of rooftop skylights provides natural daylighting into the processing space, while south-facing photovoltaic rooftop panels deliver a renewable source of electricity. Finally, a tasting room overlooking the processing area as well as the fields of rye, corn and wheat is planned for future construction.

 

Materials & Custom Details

Maintaining the simple, rectilinear form gabled form and dark brown hue of the Woodinville distillery, the new complex consists of buildings clad in dark metal siding and Kebony wood. Large corten-clad sliding barn doors and bands of steel evoke the warmth and character of the whiskey. Highly crafted details are strategically situated at the forefront of the building’s design. Selected elements demolished at the Woodinville distillery are salvaged and repurposed for the new complex, thus creating a conceptual and physical link between the new facility and the distillery.

Situated in a region where the environmental conditions are ideal for aging whiskey, the rickhouses are uninsulated and unconditioned to maximize the temperature swings that support the aging process. On the exterior, a huge “Woodinville Whiskey Co.” sign is rendered as a semi-transparent super-graphic painted onto the north façade of the building, inspired by signage found on the sides of distilleries and rickhouses throughout rural and agricultural regions from Kentucky to Scotland.

Central island

Located in downtown Oakland, the project reflects the second generation of Bay Area brand, Mr. Espresso, serving as an example of how a diverse cultural landscape can heavily nourish a community’s heritage identity.

 

Functional Design

The design is inspired by Italian culture, using minimalism and contrast to create an experience similar to that of a traditional Italian caffe ritual. The espresso bar becomes the central feature of the space to accommodate the large number of people. It is designed as a central island, featuring a custom, elegant pastry display, reminiscent of a jewelry shop.

 

Material Palette

The material selection is inspired by the Italian tradition, which is masterful at creating spaces with great complexity using minimal elements, thus leading to carefully choosing materials such as natural wood, stone and marble. The term “chiaroscuro” -the Italian notion of contrast- provides further inspiration. More specifically, hand polished copper contrasts with the organic nature of wood and stone and acts as a reflective backdrop for the espresso bar.

Architectural Sculpture

Above the bar, a lightweight, wooden sculptural form highlights the verticality of the space and defines the heavy, wooden island. The sculpture also serves as a gestural move, acting both as an object -a nod to the domes and arcades of the Renaissance and Baroque periods- as well as a spatial boundary that constructs an interplay between solid and void surfaces.

The sculpture is composed of 272 slats formed from a total of 528 pieces, all made of birch plywood, designed and laid out to minimize waste. An array of prototypes are made and tested, focusing primarily on the staining process, which is eventually achieved with Ethiopian Shantawene coffee.

Serene haven

Nestled within an idyllic setting, the captivating residence in Punta, Paros, embodies a harmonious fusion of two distinct housing units. Connecting them is a central hall, adorned with a pergola, gracefully bridging the building volumes, and providing seamless transitions through shared outdoor spaces.

 

Positioning & Orientation

The residence fully embraces its western orientation, aligning its architecture with the geometry of the site to offer breathtaking views of the sea and mesmerizing sunsets. Access to the property is granted from the eastern side, where visitors embark on an enchanting stroll through an ancient olive grove, gradually revealing the architectural composition and unveiling panoramic vistas.

 

Functional Organization

Internally, the kitchen and dining area operate independently yet maintain a direct connection to one another. Both spaces integrate with their respective outdoor areas, which are in close proximity, affording shade and unobstructed views of the coastline. The bedrooms are situated on the eastern side, at the rear of the building, facing the garden. This deliberate placement ensures increased privacy and tranquility, sheltered from the shared spaces.

The outdoor environment, shaped as an embrace between the pergola and a covered seating area, protected within stone walls, accommodates a swimming pool, a pool lounge, and a shaded dining area adjacent to the outdoor kitchen. The landscape design incorporates vegetable gardens that serve both residences. The intermediate semi outdoor spaces blend indoor and outdoor elements, unifying them functionally and aesthetically.

 

Material Palette

The building showcases a palette of earthy hues, with dark-colored stone, natural wood, textured concrete, and colored plaster. The latter pays homage to the urban tradition of Paros, with warm earthy tones frequently used in building facades, setting them apart from the conventional white. The same color palette is echoed within the interior spaces, employing earthy tones, stone, wood, as well as a blend of contemporary and preserved antique furniture, imbuing the entire residence with a distinctive character.

The interplay between architectural volumes and the Cycladic light, pronounced contrasts, shadows, and human scale converge to create an architecture that stands out, interpreting the spirit of the place and accentuating its timeless characteristics. Every significant detail within the spaces bears the mark of human craftsmanship and the patina of materials on walls, window frames, and water outlets, introducing a sense of temporal dimension to the living experience.

Linear interaction

A former commercial space in Kerameikos, designed in 1938 by Aristomenes Provelengios, is transformed into a modern restaurant.

 

Functional Organization

The restaurant occupies the elevated ground floor and includes the main hall, bar, and part of the kitchen. The basement houses part of the preparation area, along with a loft space. The relationship between these successive levels is defined by the positioning of the reception area and its view of the public space. Central to the design composition is a monolithic bench, which serves as a pivotal feature. Spanning over a total length of 11m, the monolithic bench seamlessly connects the bar and kitchen areas, joining them within a single volume that extends along the ground floor plan. Chefs and guests interact, while the process of food preparation and consumption coexist in the same space. In the basement, a blue glass wall defines the boundary of the secondary kitchen.

 

Architectural elements

Transparent materials are strategically employed to create a distinct atmosphere that complements the architectural design and aesthetic. The main façade balances the relationship between solid and void. The load-bearing elements contribute to the building’s structural integrity, while the large openings and double-height ground floor space allow abundant natural light to enter the space, fostering a visual connection between the interior and exterior environments.

Featuring a minimal and simple geometry, devoid of any decorative design, the façade serves as a filter between the public and private space. The exterior mural -a carefully composed artwork that incorporates street art elements- becomes the façade’s main feature, adding vibrancy to the exterior aesthetic. During the renovation process, materials were thoroughly selected to accentuate the existing elements of the space.

 

Material Palette

The interior space showcases a blend of perforated metal, blue glass, and plaster finishes, extending the robustness of the façade seamlessly inside the building. Metal emerges as the primary material across the restaurant, retaining the building’s original aesthetic as a toy manufacturing workshop and reinforcing its industrial identity.

The exterior coating, treated with the artifice technique, sets the stage for crafting a textured ambiance within the building’s interior. The plaster finish, alternating between coarse and rough texture, serves as a contemporary interpretation of the façade’s coating. Introducing blue hues on the interior glass adds depth to the space’s ambiance, subtly referencing the modernist movement, of which architect and urban planner Aristomenes Proveleggios was a notable member.