The Brief
We were tasked to provide quality ironmongery that enhanced the visitor experience while being sympathetic to the history of the original building, ensuring all products worked alongside the sensitively restored architectural features.
Johnnie Walker Experience
Architect Simpson & Brown Architects
Contractor BAM Construction Limited
Subcontractor MMM Joinery Ltd
Location Princes Street, Edinburgh
Service Full hardware scheduling service
Date 2021
Photography Giles Rocholl Photography
The Project
- Reinstated glazed entrance canopy.
- Restoration of the original bronze elements including lighting sconces, casement windows, decorative panels and original banking hall doors.
- External stone repairs.
- Repair and restoration of the original copper roof.
- Reinstatement of the original bronze shopfront.
- Repair of the famous ‘Binns’ Clock to full working order.
- Restoration of the former Banking Hall.
Simpson & Brown were appointed as architect for the radical transformation of this Category B-listed department store to the immersive whisky visitor experience and global brand home as the centrepiece of Diageo’s £185M investment in Scottish Whisky Tourism.
While the design concept was conceived to be sympathetic to the original building it was also designed to be bold and contemporary. This approach needed to be considered within the ironmongery package.
With large numbers of future visitors accessing the immersive experience, safety and accessibility were at the forefront of requirements.
We worked in partnership with Simpson & Brown Architects to fully understand the end users journey through the building, ensuring that the latest accessibility requirements were considered at every point.
076.7006 801.100.076.7006.SSS FDKS Circular Disc
812 500.3V.DG.812.DR.SSS Safety Lever Handle
415.xxx 601.415.xxx.xxxx.SQ.UN.SSS 1.5mm Square Corners Un-drilled Kicking Plate
9301 200.400.025.9301.FC.SQ.CE.SSS Cam Action EN2-5
812 Lever Handle
812 500.3V.DG.812.DR.SSS Safety Lever Handle
Aesthetic
Visually, the simple shape and proportions work perfectly alongside the linear detailing within the design.
Finish
With bronze and copper featuring heavily in the restored architectural feature PVD hairline brass was proposed to bring together a uniformed finish across the project.
"3V Architectural Hardware lived up to our expectation throughout the contract. From our point of view, the ironmongery had to meet exacting standards and fulfil the brief for a prestige visitor attraction. In addition, the fittings had to be of high quality and we were keen that they referenced the detailing of the original building. In line with the building’s history and Johnnie Walker’s brand, we were looking for ironmongery which referenced the past whilst looking to the future. 3V allowed us to fulfil the brief with distinctively modern forms in a PVD hairline brass finish which stayed true to the heritage building and brand. 3V assisted throughout the whole specification process and were quick at responding to any queries which arose during the contract stage."