The Pilgrim Brewer
Testing the Thesis
At this point in the investigation, it is a straightforward task to collect the sequence of spaces already described in abstract, and assemble them on the site into a completed brewery. The interesting challenge is to now test the thesis to judge the success of the investigation: has the investigation into process, experience and community uncovered hidden potentialities in the architecture?
Paths of Experience
An obvious approach to laying out the programme would be to bring patrons in to the building at the start of the process, leading them through each of the stages until the procession culminates at the tasting room, where they are served a beer. This is a rewarding and interesting pilgrimage, once. Returning and regular visitors are unlikely to be interested in following the machinations of the process every time they want to stop for a drink. Alternatively, if they are casually surrounded by it, they might appreciate the atmosphere.
There are three conceptual paths through the brewery, corresponding to the three axes from the earlier spectrum:
- Experience axis: A newcomer, investigating the extent of the brewery, following the pilgrimage of John Barleycorn.
- Community axis: A returnee, making direct passage through the building from the street, potentially dwelling in the courtyard.
- Process axis: The materials, starting from the loading lift and also following the pilgrimage of John Barleycorn, eventually rising from the ground as completed, racked kegs.
Isometric showing three processions (Click to enlarge)
Perspectives along experience axis, interacting with vessels from process axis (Click to enlarge)
Perspectives along community axis (Click to enlarge)
The critical moments of the experience procession, as it meshes with the process procession are illustrated in this sectional model:
Sectional model
Key moments of the experience procession, interacting with the process
The pilgrimage begins at the arrival at the mash and lauter tun, which is seen screened from the street by the vertical louvres. The main celebratory space of the brewing core and conversation pit follows, where brewers climb up to the kettle while onlookers climb down to their tables. Patrons can subsequently descend around the perimeters of the fermentation tanks, in order to access the subterranean conditioning space, before finally being reborn into the adjacent garden area (“the great lake of beer”).