Oak Distillery Church / ODOS Architects

Description provided by the project team. Now, nearly a hundred years later, the distillery is being reinvented to produce whiskey once again. The revitalized facility, which will retain its former milling canal, fermentation house, warehouse and kilns, will once again have the capacity to produce high-quality products for the international market. The central concept is the juxtaposition of stunning modern design combined with rich historical architecture. This reflects a modern and innovative brand, drawing on the traditions of Irish whiskey making.

The aim of the project is to create a high-quality contemporary whiskey distillery and offer visitors a unique experience within the grounds and fabric of the original factory, kilns and warehouse building. The reuse of these existing structures, including the original early 19th century mill and several later additions, will be central to the overall design, which celebrates the contrast between new and old, while complementing existing local attractions such as the canal and Monastreven itself.

These buildings sit majestically in 4.5 acres of beautiful grounds, bounded on one side by the Royal Canal, which our ancestors used in the 19th century to transport whiskey in large casks to Dublin on horse-drawn barges. The facilities they house will be oriented and centered on the canal as of last year, providing a rich social and cultural destination for the public while restoring the original use of the site with functional economic activity, compatible with the trajectories of this agricultural land.