Project Description
A new dimension to the whiskey experience
As the flagship category at Dublin Airport, Irish whiskey demanded a truly standout presence at the heart of The Loop – the new walk-through shopping area in Terminal 1, created in 2015 in partnership with ARI.
The concept for the Irish Whiskey Collection was guided by intensive customer research of the needs of both Irish and international travellers. With over 300 global examples of liquid gold and centred on more than 120 Irish whiskeys, the store itself showcases one of Europe’s most diverse whiskey collections.
Our design blends the extraordinary heritage of Irish whiskey with a contemporary edge, inviting the customer to share an authentic taste of Ireland. The expressive heart of the store is the stunning centrepiece – a marble-topped tasting bar that acts as a magnet for the customer.
The store won retail store of the year at the Retail Excellence Ireland Awards for 2012.
PROJECT
The Irish Whiskey Collection
TOTAL AREA
127m2
CLIENT
Aer Rianta
LOCATION
Dublin Airport, Terminal 1 and 2, Ireland
SERVICES
Retail Environments
Furniture Design
Store Planning
3D Visualisation
The materials used evoke the contemporary masculinity of a traditional gentleman’s club. Framed in polished copper, the wallbays allow the brands to sing out. The walls feature back painted glass in black and amber back-illuminated acrylic, adding a glowing tone to the store. The exposed ceiling is painted in black to further enhance the intimate atmosphere.
Suspended above the circular tasting bar is a stunning, curved copper sculpture created by Irish artist Shane Holland. The work was inspired by the copper pot stills used in the Irish whiskey industry, and informed by the original Design Solution conceptual design.
“This was a fantastic project to work on as we were able to create an epicentre, bringing the feeling of a bar to the heart of the buzz in this popular store. With a stunning marble surface, the bar is also a functional piece of furniture that makes the most of the space – always a scarce commodity in airport stores. Traditional elements of the Irish whiskey industry, such as the copper of the stills, are blended with contemporized expressions of that heritage within a luxury solution that makes it easy for shoppers to explore and navigate the category.”
Kevin Patience, Creative Director, The Design Solution
“This was a fantastic project to work on as we were able to create an epicentre, bringing the feeling of a bar to the heart of the buzz in this popular store. With a stunning marble surface, the bar is also a functional piece of furniture that makes the most of the space – always a scarce commodity in airport stores. Traditional elements of the Irish whiskey industry, such as the copper of the stills, are blended with contemporized expressions of that heritage within a luxury solution that makes it easy for shoppers to explore and navigate the category.”
Kevin Patience, Creative Director, The Design Solution
