The Glenmorangie Distillery
The Glenmorangie Distillery located in northern Scotland, near the city of Tain, is a cornerstone in the Highlands’ history and heritage. The distillery was founded in 1843 between sea and earth. The Glenmorangie Company has launched a competition in 2016 for an extension to its Tain’s historical site, and entrusted Barthélémy Griño to achieve the project.
The Franco-Uruguayan and Paris-based practice delivered two industrial buildings in 2024, symbols of the brand renewal and its ambitious development strategy. The project aimed to revitalise the image of the site which holds some unique craft skills, express the quest for perfection of this renowned company and provide the distillery with a modern and high-performance building.
Halfway between tradition and modernity, the two volumes created take their place within the almost two-hundred-year-old distillery.
The iconicity of the architecture arises from two new interlinked volumes. The higher one, inspired by the old lighthouses guiding ships in the Dornoch Firth, emphasizes a vivid modernity. Its 20 meters height overhangs the whole site. Moreover, its transparent and cubic volume act as a symbol. This iconic tower welcomes two monumental stills, and a laboratory for creating and tasting, located on the highest level, offering stunning views over the North Sea. The new spaces created take advantage of the natural scenery to offer an inspiring experience. Its glazed facade shows the two biggest stills of Scotland. In the back of the glass, some wooden panels echo casks, where the old whisky develops its flavour. The new tower facade takes place in the site history and reveals the very innovative aspect of distillation. In the other hand, arising a kinetic and vibrant architectural envelope. All day long, the Lighthouse reflects the changing sky, capturing its shades and brightness, in harmony with the outstanding landscape.
A lower building completes the facility, with no technical prominence or machinery visible from the outside. Subtly merged with the existing warehouses, its traditional cladding is made of local stone and slate. The extension is fed by biogas, directly emanating from the distillation process. Here, the Distillers can give free rein to their creativity, trying out some daring recipes.
The care taken with details of the Lighthouse construction, conceived as an inspiring and high-technology laboratory, echoes and pays tribute to this lands’ exceptional savoir-faire, becoming the symbol of a Scottish whisky company looking towards the future.
CREDITS
BARTHELEMY GRINO: Representative architect
BLYTH & BLYTH: MEP and Structure engineer
BRIGGS OF BURTON: Industrial processing engineer
THOMSON BETHUNE: Quantity surveyor
