EA Research and Design Office unveils Gin Distillery in Japan
In the tranquil landscape of Joetsu City, Japan, Takeru Shoji And Takayuki Shimada of the EA Research and Design Office presents the Echigo Herb Distillery, a space to accommodate the artisanal process of gin-making. The three-storey building has been strengthened Solid, steelAnd Wood For a form that seems connected to the ground yet floating. Four large, horizontally spanning arched openings connect the structure to the natural environment at four corner points, while creating the illusion that it hovers above the landscape. Artificial terraces and pathways extend from the garden to the distillery. These terraces also house distilling equipment, upon which juniper berries and other botanicals used in gin-making are planted, weaving the production process into the architecture. The four corner supports are treated as garden elements, further enhancing the feeling of lightness above.
All images © Koji Fuji (Toreal)
Echigo Herb Distillery’s gallery immerses visitors in the process
Distillery, designed by japanese team The EA Research and Design Office is located on a site with deep roots. Since 1980, the customer company has operated its head office and factory here, researching wild herbal enzymes and manufacturing enzyme-based food products. The project is based on the heritage of using the alcohol produced during the fermentation process to make gin.
The distilleries are on the ground floor, surrounded by a two-story atrium that allows natural light to fill the space. An enclosed gallery on the second floor revolves around the distillation equipment, providing a 360-degree view of the production process and allowing visitors to connect with the craft at the heart of the facility. A staircase leads up to the third floor, which is a multi-purpose laboratory that offers panoramic views from Mount Yoneyama to Mount Myoko. There, inverted perimeter beams are used as flower beds and provide strong support for 90-millimetre steel columns. These thin elements make the roof appear to float above the structure. The ceiling is crafted from mirrored stainless steel, creating a water-like effect and highlighting the essence of gin-making.
A space to accommodate the artisanal process of gin-making
Local stone and wood resources create material pallets
Materiality is at the heart of the design, with local craftsmanship and resources celebrated throughout. The ground floor and roofs consist of soil from the area, rooting the structure in the ground. The 8.5-metre terrazzo bar counter is a microcosm of the local landscape, using stones from Mount Myoko, the Sekikawa River and the Naotsu coast. The concrete walls feature joetsu cedar formwork, while the same cedar is used for the exterior of the adjacent machine room. Wandering between the earthy, earthy spaces and the airy, panoramic upper floors, visitors experience a deep connection with the land and the craft of distilling.
The three-story building combines reinforced concrete, steel and wood
The four corner supports are considered as garden elements
The ground floor houses the distillers’ house.
A two-story atrium that allows natural light to permeate the space
