PREFER A QUICK READ?
- Rohini Gomez Braganza
- October 21, 2020
- 1:54 am
ARTICLE CONTENTS
PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS
Project Name: Paul John Distillery Visitor Centre
Project Type: Commercial setup
Location: Cuncolim Industrial area, Goa
Project Architect: Dean DCruz
Photography: Dinesh Mehta
Monolithically pitched into a sparsely populated town in Southern Goa, stands an Architecture that is a reflection of Goa’s rich heritage. Its facade showcases a quintessential Goan villa, seen commonly across the region, painting quite a quaint and familiar picture. But unlike most heritage villas, this work of Architecture appears palatial and accentuated in size and volume, subtly hinting at a different interpretation to the first time visitor. One may wonder as to why a villa like this isolates itself amid a barren landscape, juxtaposed with an industrial backdrop of buildings nearby.
The villa in appearance is in fact not a villa in function because beneath its solitary picture, hidden secretly under its colossal Goan-Portuguese facade, are over 3000 casks of one of the world’s finest brands of Whisky. In complete darkness and silence, these casks of whisky have been left to mature to produce the most premium of Indian alco-beverages for the world to devour. The building sitting above this vault, is the only visitor centre in India representing the Paul John Whisky distilleries.
The freshly launched visitor centre is politely accommodated into the original pre-existing factory setting of the Paul John distilleries. Converting it into a place that not only produces the signature alco-beverage, but also a place to understand what goes into the production process of the freshly packaged bottles of single malt.
AN ODE TO GOAN HERITAGE ARCHITECTURE
The Architecture of the centre emulates the key characteristics of a quintessential heritage villa of Goa, with the idea of inviting people ‘home’ to where it all began. Every aspect of its elevation is an ode to the once Portuguese occupied coastal State. From its large terracotta tiled roofs with ornate eaves boards, bright yellow painted walls, large double shutter windows with wooden frames and glass panes, intricate grills, white washed pilasters and window moulding, protruding balcaos; every element captures the essence of what Goan heritage Architecture is all about. The quaint picture is completed with a tasteful rendering of tropical landscape and textured cobblestone pathway at the entrance portico.
The visitor center translates into a place to learn, taste and experience, focussing on how Paul John engineers its premium and unique expressions of single malts. On this premise the ground floor of the building accommodates, a large double height multipurpose hall that caters to a grand and idyllic platform for whisky enthusiasts, with beautiful displays of expressions along its edge, and a cafe to unwind; An enclosed audio visual/multipurpose room to introduce its visitors to the story of Paul John with a short film, and presentation of what defines pure whisky; Tasting rooms to taste Paul John’s expressions and limited editions; store and sensory lab.
The first floor accommodates a waiting lounge, a conference room, company offices with attached spill out terraces.
VIBRANT INTERIORS
The interiors resonate a similar aesthetic language adhering with the exterior Architectural concept. Some of the key characteristics include brightly painted yellow walls, rust colored ceramic floor tiles, stained glass window panes, the window openings from the interiors are a mirror reflection of their exterior appearance, brightly colored patterned ceramic tiles adorn staircase risers, intricate metal grills veil windows and staircases. This base canvas of finishes is further embellished with restored antique Goan furniture, timber wall mounted shelving for artful displays of single malt expressions, Mario Miranda wall paintings.
The interior aesthetics come to life with ample light streaming in from the extensive glazing seen along the building edge by day. Colorful mosaic chandeliers, ceiling hung pendant lights illuminate the central communal spaces by night. Whilst the Paul John expression displays are kept in the limelight with ceiling hung linear spot lighting.
Beyond the visitor centre, the company organizes an insightful tour of the factory for its guests, introducing them to various processes like the milling of barley acquired from the foothills of the Himalayas; the distillation process in large copper pot stills; the selection process of the spirits that make the final cut; storing and maturation process of whisky in white oak barrels imported from America, that contribute in a great way to the flavors produced.
A MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE
Today the Paul John visitor centre invites people from all walks of life to experience and immerse themselves into the essence of their signature. It has also become a unique attraction for tourists visiting the coastal State, drawing single malt enthusiasts, connoisseurs and even novices from all over the world, putting Goa on the alco-beverage world map.
With an aesthetic vocabulary of grandeur and extravagance, the experience of the visitor centre adds a quaint and classic flavor to everyone’s customer-brand experience. Rendering a tasteful collaboration of two rich legacies, heritage architecture with spices, that are indeed true to the Indian subcontinent.
The perfectly golden and scintillating message in a bottle.
Contacts
For any inquiries please email
archivedsgn@gmail.com
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