De Kuyper Royal Distillers, housed in a listed building in Schiedam, wanted a new arrangement for the reception areas in order to appeal to contemporary tastes – the world of chic cocktail bars frequented by a young, successful, dynamic, international, trend-setting and sophisticated audience.
Concept The visit must be an instructive experience, where people can get acquainted with the distillery’s history and sample the latest products through sight and taste. The new design is based on the reception programme, a route that leads through different ambiences. Contemporary additions stand out through their form, material and colour, adding a new world that does not detract from the dignity of the monument.
Route Monumental wooden doors open up into the entrance hall, which is designed as an outdoor space. Visitors are received in the reception area, after which the route takes them along a thirty-metre display cabinet. Opposite this is a closed wall with diorama windows that lend views to the characteristic features of the monumental office building. On the other side of the show glass are work areas, which are designed as part of the display cabinet, so in effect there is only one object in this former factory floor. The route continues through the old distillery with copper stills and wooden vats, an atmosphere imbued with the essence of history and craftsmanship. Finally, visitors find themselves back in the reception area, which has metamorphosed into a completely different space – the Future Spirits Bar.
Future Spirits Bar The bar counter with its cocktail workstations is located at the head of the room. Suspended in the high space is a lounge balcony which is accessed by an ample staircase. De Kuyper’s corporate colour, violet, is reflected in the walls, floor and ceiling. Different computer-controlled light sources transform the cocktail bar into spectacular combinations of colours and atmospheres. This is the colourful world of De Kuyper, inviting visitors to sample quality, discover new tastes and get a feeling for the techniques, the jargon, the show and the ‘acts’.
