Wine and Brandy Distillery Museum & Warehouse, Chernyakhovsk Building, Russian Commercial Architecture
Wine and Brandy Distillery Museum & Warehouse in Chernyakhovsk
Commercial Contemporary Architecture Development in Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia – design by TOTEMENT / PAPER
16 Nov 2017
Wine and Brandy Distillery Museum & Warehouse
Architects: TOTEMENT / PAPER
Location: Chernyakhovsk, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia
Wine and Brandy Distillery Museum & Warehouse

This complex is located in an old German town in the Kaliningrad region, which was severely damaged during World War II. The modern brandy distillery was built on an empty lot next to a railroad. The mandate was to build a warehouse, which apart from its primary function of storing brandy barrels would serve as a public space and reception hall. It would be a symbol of creation and rebirth, demonstrating the role of the distillery in the life of the city. Through exploration of all project elements, the task evolved into the creation of a highly symbolic architectural ensemble.
 

Based on the fact that brandy ultimately comes from grapevines, rich in Christian symbolism from the Tree of Life to  the Blood of Christ, the architects incorporated several literary symbols into the design, which would conjure up images of harmonious interaction among different symbols and signs. In some cases the symbols would be opposites, but would form stable pairs that give rise to a new symbol. Internal and...