The Distillery

Project

268239

Status

Submitted

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NEW EUROPEAN BAUHAUS AWARDS : existing completed examples

Project title

The Distillery

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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 got new life since 2016 and fresh identity while keeping its story alive.

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

A self-financed personal project to renew an abandoned distillery in Brno and transform it into a “social reactor”, a multipurpose centre for cultural events and work spaces was initiated by three young architects, their aim was to show that even buildings that no longer fulfill their function can be adapted and used effectively, it is the way we keep our legacy in these buildings and their history. One of the latest and most impactive structural interventions was carried out at the second and third level of the building, where the central beam system was removed to create a double height hall and two balconies facing the central space. The former is meant for presentations, lectures, and workshops, while the upper balconies are dedicated to designers’ ateliers and offices. Originally part of a Distillate factory founded by a Jewish family in the early years of the 19th century, the four-story structure is the last one standing out of seven connected buildings. The new programme is distributed across all three levels of the building, and the multiple functions are spread out across different spaces, creating a dynamic and challenging working environment. Driven by the succession of programs hosted since its new occupants moved in, all restoring interventions were carried out in order to best utilize the spaces through their inherited qualities. For instance, before its latest stage as a coworking center, the main hall used to function as an event venue and later as an art cinema. The need for heat and acoustic insulation led to the installation of a continuous rubber strip along its walls. Most recently, a double floor box-like addition was introduced to accommodate a shared meeting room, a kitchenette, a library and working spaces on its upper part. Entirely built out of recycled materials from previous events, the wooden structure is surrounded by polycarbonate and corrugated plastic.

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, non-profit 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 co-create 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.