A Sensory Visit – Four Pillars by Breathe
Visitors to the new Four Pillars distillery in Healesville are likely making the journey to sample the beloved brand’s gins, whether through a simple tasting or a more in-depth masterclass, but they’ll undoubtedly leave having experienced a whole lot more, thanks to the architecture by Breathe.
Seamlessly weaving together warm materials and engaging details, the new Four Pillars site encompasses welcoming hospitality and events spaces along with functional distillation, bottling and storage facilities – all designed with a deep focus on sustainability.
As Australia’s first carbon neutral gin distillery, Four Pillars has realised its ambition to set a new benchmark for sustainable gin production. Breathe has ensured the distillery also embodies a holistic approach to sustainability in design, construction and operation. The façade, enclosed behind a veil of raw copper tubing, does more than just catch the eye – it works as a natural heat exchange to reduce energy consumption. The distillery is solar powered and includes systems to reduce glass consumption at the same time as increasing recycling capacity. The building itself is crafted from recycled and upcycled concrete and bricks, while the construction process focused on minimising waste and, where possible, salvaging it for re-use.
On arrival at Four Pillars Gin, an experience of nature is prioritised, with the building nestled into a landscape that emphasises local vegetation and botanicals that are used throughout the gin range. Entering the distillery, a copper desk greets visitors before they’re invited to step through to Beth’s Bar. Here, raw copper features prominently – recalling both the copper stills and the copper piping that feeds gin directly to the bar as a means of minimising glass usage. Cocktail booths and bar stools upholstered in pineapple ‘leather’ encourage visitors to settle in and enjoy not only the gins on offer but the view of the production area.
Where Beth’s Bar is almost brutalist in its scale and use of raw materials, Jude’s Gin Garden Bar is characterised by openness and light, though it still subtly continues the industrial aesthetic. The connection between the garden bar and nature is done by way of large sliding windows that open up to the outdoors and semi-translucent polycarbonate walls that let natural light through, creating a carefree al fresco environment. Completing this immersion in nature, Jude’s includes Australian ironbark decking, a featured recycled brick water bar and perimeter planter boxes that incorporate vegetation into the bar itself.
Having explored the distillery, sampled an array of gins and found themselves nourished to the fullest by their surroundings, guests are likely keen to take a piece of their experience home with them. Passing by the gin shop before exiting, they’ll find rare and limited releases, special Healesville-only gins and merch displayed on the backdrop of recycled brick walls. It’s a fitting finale to Four Pillars Gin, a place dedicated not only to the making and sharing of gin but to exemplifying sustainable practices.
