The project is for a whisky distillery bridge deep in the Scottish Highlands which serves as a hiking trail connecting two small communities.
The site is in between the two small villages of Inchrory and Tomintoul. These villages in the past would have had a brewer (most likely a local farmer), who would provide the spirit now known as Scotch Whisky to the community. The community would bond and gather over this strong drink to get through cold harsh winters and keep spirits high.
This project attempts to build a bridge between the two communities, one both physical and social, by linking up existing hiking trails on either side of the gorge, creating a direct and swift route between the villages. The primary function of the building is a bridge, whilst the secondary function is a brewery and meeting place.
The substantial size of the gorge provided a challenge for constructing the bridge; the shape of the bridge is determined by the swing method, which involves constructing the bridge on one side, rotating it around a pivot point, then finally locking it into place at the opposite end.
60% of the taste of whisky comes from the barrel due to the ebb and flow of liquid into the charred wooden staves which release flavours.
The widest and tallest part of the bridge is dictated by the pivot point. The swing connection works with bearings in two layers with the idea being to slide a pin in once in final position.
The unique number correlates to the position on the truss which means it can be built by the community without any specific skills or large specialist equipment.
Large kinetic panels were introduced to moderate the airflow by controlling the opening aperture. This ensures immediate climate control throughout the whole structure.
The building bridges two village communities by linking up existing hiking trails which are a key feature of the area.