Emeishan Whisky Distillery: a reinterpretation of vernacular architecture

The primary inspiration for the design scheme begins with the site itself, carefully chosen for its unique conditions. Surrounded on three sides by the winding Liu Creek, and with a direct vista to the peak of Emei less than five kilometers away, the topography of the land is in some areas gradually stepped with agricultural terraces, in others dramatic and breath-taking with steep rock cliff faces dropping down to the water’s edge. This creates very interesting pathways, routes and a constantly changing relationship with both mountain and stream. The visitor journey blends together panoramas of the mountain and perspectives of the river into the distillery experience, so that whisky-making and the landscape is woven into one holistic narrative.

Three long buildings housing the whisky production facilities are situated at the north side of the site; parallel in formation, they are tucked into the natural gentle slope of the land with gradually descending rooflines. In a reinterpretation of vernacular architecture, reclaimed clay tiles give a humble texture to the pitched roofs that rest upon a modern concrete post and beam structure. The infill of rock walls are built up by the very boulders extracted from the ground during site leveling, so that the overall palette of materials is in complete harmony with the environment. The strategic placement of the main industrial buildings to the edges of the site leaves a clearing at the center so that there is little to obstruct one’s enjoyment of the natural surroundings.

Within this clearing, the Tasting Experience building is partially submerged into the ground; five subterranean tasting rooms surround a domed courtyard with a water feature in the middle. The upper part of the dome reveals itself out of the ground slightly, its shape rising and coming to a soft crest, mirroring the profile of Emeishan. Three concentric brick rings are perched atop the dome, with stepped layers alluding to the rippling of water, the originating source of the whisky, spreading across the site from this centralized point. This sculptural landform becomes an iconic presence that not only can be seen from every part of the journey, but is also accessible itself and acts as a viewing platform from which visitors can enjoy a 360-panoramic vista of the site and surroundings

The final building in the visitor sequence is a Restaurant and Bar, cantilevered on two sides, one corner hovers over the river bank and offers guests inside yet another different perspective of the impressive nature around. With dining space organized along the building’s perimeter, the core is actually a void space, solid walls form a square courtyard that is oriented to frame the Emei peak. Stairs on either side lead one up to a leisurely rooftop viewing platform, while another staircase intersects with a water feature to guide visitors downwards. Descending along the natural topography and following the pathways through the landscape, visitors finally arrive near the river’s edge, where they may appreciate that the flowing waters before them are the very source of the whisky produced here, coming full circle in the journey.

Alongside a deep appreciation for site’s natural resources, the project is also an embodiment of the refined sense of artistry embedded in whisky-making and blending, which is in dialogue with Chinese traditional craftsmanship and appreciation of materials. The material combinations used throughout architecture, landscape, and interiors are consistent; a variety of concrete, cement, and stone mixtures form the base material palette, finding resonance in the strong mineral presence of the site; accent materials are drawn from the materials used in whisky craft, from the striking copper distillation pots to the aged oak casks. The result is a fine-tuned balance of rustic and refined, hard and soft, cool and warm, natural and crafted.