Shan-shui: A Duality, The Chuan Malt Whiskey Distillery by Neri&Hu.

Neri&Hu have designed a distillery and home for Pernod Ricard in China, set on the deeply spiritual place and UNESCO World Heritage site of Mount Emei. While no built remnants remained, the mountain has had a rich past as an impressive monastery, site of historic battles and a stopping point along many pilgrimage and trade routes. The design team took this opportunity to create a timeless architecture, speaking to the core values of the brand as well as the material and cultural heritage it aspires to sustain.

Three long buildings housing the whisky production facilities are situated on the North side of the site. Parallel in formation, they are tucked into the natural gentle slope of the land with gradually descending rooflines. In an interpretation of vernacular architecture, reclaimed clay tiles give a humble texture to the pitched roofs that rest upon a modern concrete post-and-beam structure. The infill of rock walls is made from the very boulders extracted from the ground during site levelling, so that the cycle of destruction and recreation may continue in permanent evolution.

In contrast to the vernacular roots of the industrial buildings, the two buildings open to visitors are built upon fundamental geometries— the circle and the square—which in Chinese philosophy represent heaven and earth, respectively. The round building is partially submerged in the ground, with five subterranean tasting rooms surrounding a domed courtyard that contains a cascading water feature in the middle.

The upper part of the dome reveals itself out of the ground slightly, with three concentric brick rings perched atop, subtly mirroring the silhouette of the mountain. This sculptural landform becomes an iconic presence that can be seen from every part of site, as well as providing a panoramic vista.

The square building, housing a restaurant and bar, is located further down the topography, cantilevered on two sides with one corner hovering over the river bank. While the dining space is organized along the building’s perimeter for open views, at the core an open-air courtyard is oriented to frame the Emei peak.

A variety of concrete, cement, and stone mixtures form the base material palette, finding resonance in the strong mineral presence of the site. Accent materials are drawn from those used in whisky craft, such as the copper distillation pots to the aged oak casks.

Throughout the project, Neri&Hu strike a harmonious balance between architecture and landscape, as the deep appreciation for the site’s natural resources and an embodiment of the refined sense of artistry embedded in whisky-making and blending shines through.

Related: Papi Restaurant in Paris by Neri&Hu.

[Images courtesy of Neri&Hu. Photography by Chen Hao.]