The Distillery

Project

269229

Status

Submitted

Award category

You want to submit

NEW EUROPEAN BAUHAUS AWARDS : existing completed examples

Project title

The Distillery

Full project title

Description

The Distillery’s architectural strategy was designed as a cultural venue to inspire creative confrontation, support innovative ideas and accommodate outstanding events. Originally a distillate factory, then non-functioning for many decades, the historical building is now being given new life and fresh identity while keeping its story alive. Within the context of a post-industrial city The Distillery is a representative example of how a vacant property can become a vibrant location in the city.

Where was your project implemented in the EU?

When was your project implemented?

Has your project benefited from EU programmes or funds?

Which programme(s) or fund(s)? Provide the name of the programme(s)/fund(s), the strand/action line as relevant and the year.

Please provide a summary of your project

The Distillery’s architectural strategy was designed as a cultural venue to inspire creative confrontation, support innovative ideas and accommodate outstanding events. Originally a distillate factory, then non-functioning for many decades, the historical building has got new life and fresh identity while keeping its story alive. The project started 2016 as the first prototype of Social Reactor, KOGAA’ s slow development lab tackling the problem of inactive structures and their adaptation into substitute functions. Within the context of a post-industrial city with a strong past in textile production, The Distillery is a representative example of how a vacant property can become a vibrant location, playing an active role in the urban and economic transformation of the surrounding neighborhood and life of the city.

Please give information about the key objectives of your project in terms of sustainability and how these have been met

In post-industrial cities, there are often unused complexes, buildings and brownfields that have already fulfilled their functions, nothing is happening in them and their future is uncertain. Similar spaces often await demolition and in their place the subsequent construction of new complexes, which, however, often do not reach the original ones in quality. At KOGAA Studio, we therefore decided to find a new use for this former distillery and turned it into a social space with coworking. The complex has thus become a lively place, which plays an active role in the urban and economic transformation of this part of the city. Project The Distillery was the starting line for our studio to create substance for the built environment, committing to projects with a positive impact on users, communities, and the local context. Through our projects, the practice tackles the issue of inactive structures and their adaptation into substitute functions. The Distillery, KUMST, and DADA Distrikt projects are representative examples of how vacant properties can become vibrant locations, playing an active role in the urban and economic transformation of the surrounding neighborhood and life of the city. KOGAA is dedicated to make a change in the real estate market and create a sustainable alternative to development. Entirely built with low-budget and out of recycled materials from previous events and projects, the wooden structure is surrounded by polycarbonate and corrugated plastic.

Please give information about the key objectives of your project in terms of aesthetics and quality of experience beyond functionality and how these have been met

The re-adaptation of the inactive factory maintains a balance between the history of the industrial site and the modern context. Transformed into a multi-functional center, the old factory takes on a new role in the urban and economical development of the neighborhood and the city. The building houses dynamic work areas as well as open spaces for cultural events. It takes on a new identity while never renouncing its past. Indeed, the original features become the heart of the architectural design. Project  complements the modern additions while establishing a dialogue between the past and the present. In 2019 The Distillery won Grand Prix at BIG SEE Award for Interior Design and made it to the finals of the Czech Prize of Architecture Grand Prix.

Please give information about the key objectives of your project in terms of inclusion and how these have been met

The Distillery is an organic body with potential for expansion in different directions. It can absorb various subjects from which to be influenced and grow with. The typology of the Social Reactors is designed as a hybrid, which is able to adapt in time to the needs of the entities using it. The working spaces of The Distillery are designed to better support the worker engagement, satisfaction, and performance. The layering in alternative spaces that support collaboration enables the connections that drive success in today’s knowledge economy. The proximity and availability of alternative workspaces, both in and out of the office, are key to providing for effective collaboration. Thanks to the multifunctionality of the project, a number of spaces with multipurpose use were created, which offered opportunities to many entrepreneurs and creatives at affordable prices, and by making them accessible they also created a new public space for various cultural and educational events for the general public.

Please give information on the results/impacts achieved by your project in relation to the category you apply for

The location in the courtyard near the center encouraged the creation of cultural events. So far unknown and hidden space, containing a piece of Brno's history became alive. The space was adapted to create long-term spaces for rent, short-term spaces for work, and in conjunction with the outdoor courtyard to create a cultural and social venue. For example the first year of festival Brno Design Days 2016 we organised at The Distillery. We thus laid the foundations of the annual festival, which has gained great popularity in Brno. In collaboration with the local community of entrepreneurs and enthusiasts, with municipal institutions, we have created a new unique shared space. From 2016 to 2020, countless cultural, educational and private events took place in the premises. 

Please explain the way citizens benefiting from or affected by the project and civil society have been involved in the project and what has been the impact of this involvement on the project

The platform's motto is its ability to communicate and build partnerships across sectors. He has a long-term cooperation with local developers, nonprofit organizations, international partners and public administration. Among them are currently: JIC - South Moravian Innovation Center, CTP, TRIKAYA, City of Brno, South Moravian Region, Office of the South Moravian Region for International Cooperation, Italian Embassy, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Czech Centers. Through the offer of space for rent in the form of coworking, we reached out to a number of young talented people, individuals from various fields and start-ups, which became part of a functioning community that began to cocreate and design other projects. We have cooperated with Brno institutions such as the tourist information center, local universities, cultural venues and associations, local cafes and the gastro scene.

Please highlight the innovative character of the project

The lack of spacious yet affordable office space in the city center has become a point of interest for architects, a platform whose motto is the organic development of hibernating urban locations using architectural adaptation tools. An example of a special approach to the use of original buildings or premises is the effort to make the best use of the space. We used spaces in different way: offices, shared places for work, social and cultural space, workshops, the smallest bar in the republic, a courtyard open to the public, pop-up retail,... The concept of The Distillery is to combine an innovative and creative work environment with the local community and the cultural scene. We want a quality environment for work, education and entertainment and inspiration.

Please explain how the project led to results or learnings which could be transferred to other interested parties

The project is the first prototype of Social Reactor, KOGAA’ s slow development lab tackling the problem of inactive structures and their adaptation into substitute functions. Within the context of a post-industrial city with a strong past in textile production, The Distillery is a representative example of how a vacant property can become a vibrant location, playing an active role in the urban and economic transformation of the surrounding neighborhood and life of the city. In the five years of operating The Distillery, the project has won a number of awards and great media interest from around the world -  https://www.linka.news/cz/publikace/detail/the-distillery-social-reactor/.

Is an evaluation report or any relevant independent evaluation source available?

By ticking this box, you declare that all the information provided in this form is factually correct, that the proposed project has not been proposed for the Awards more than once under the same category and that it has not been subject to any type of investigation, which could lead to a financial correction because of irregularities or fraud.