Overview
The curved glass-and-metal facility as seen in the photo does merit a dedicated article for it boasts the first one in the drinks manufacturing industry to receive a BREEAM ‘outstanding’ rating for sustainability. The same certification has been earned by the project of the financial firm UBS headquarters in UK introduced early this year, so it is not hard to speculate the location of the project. Now let’s embark on our journey to Bombay Sapphire Gin Distillery in UK and enjoy the wonders stainless steel creates in architecture.
Bombay Sapphire Distillery
Bombay Sapphire Distillery, the new headquarters of the gin-maker Bombay Sapphire, is situated by the River Test, in Laverstoke, England UK. Covering a building area of 4500 square meters, it is also the company’s first in-house production facility opened to the public as a scenic spot (Arch2o 2026).
The two cascading glasshouses are created to plant the tropical and Mediterranean herbs used in the distillation process, with the larger one standing at 15m tall and 11m in diameter and the second one 10m tall and 9m in diameter. Each dome contains 31 pleated sections of glass that flow from the bottom of the structure to twist and narrow upon reaching the connected building (Arup 2026).
The Project Background of Bombay Sapphire Distillery
Gin-making giant Bombay Sapphire wanted a site ideal for both work and travel, i.e., a working distillery and a landmark tourist destination, that’s how they located a 20235-square-meter conservation site of over 1000 years of history (Bellapart 2026) in rural Hampshire. Heatherwick Studio was commissioned with the project which lasted 4 years from 2010 to 2014 (Editorial Arquitectura Viva SL 2026).
The chosen site was cluttered with more than forty derelict buildings poorly planned and of poor quality. To bring order out of chaos and enliven these urban areas, Heatherwick chose the River Test as the central of the refurbishment plan. They used it as the device to organize everything in this site. It turned out the river was widened with its natural banks restored and suitable flowers and shrubs planted alongside. 23 of the existing buildings were restored, 9 of the modern additions removed, and the river resumed its role as the focal point anew.
The Victoria water-powered paper mill was thus transformed into the beautiful Bombay Sapphire new botanical distillery. It exhibits “the care, skill and artistry” (Bellapart 2026) behind every mouth of Bombay Sapphire, allowing visitors to explore the botanicals that make Bombay Sapphire flavor so distinctive.
It brings out the topic of the two intertwining glasshouses, each simulating a distinct climate condition, the tropical and the Mediterranean respectively, suitable for the growth of the plants essential for the gin recipe, which will otherwise fail to survive under the UK climatic conditions. Rising directly from the edge of the River Test, they are also connected to the existing buildings, and collect the extra heat produced during distillation.
The Design of Bombay Sapphire Distillery
When it comes to the design of Bombay Sapphire Distillery, the two glasshouses designed by Heatherwick Studio come with little surprise as the landmark where history and modern design meet harmoniously. They look timeless and definitely of our time, central to the visitor experience and have been awarded with the Outstanding Façade Innovation - Society of Façade Engineering FAÇADE 2015.
The two inhabitable sculptural forms feature with pleated glass panels curving like unfolding petals. Contemporary as they might look like, the overall architecture is associated with Art Nouveau. One can imagine Antoni Gaudí the renowned Spanish architect sharing the same design ideas should he have access to the same glass engineering technology today in his age.
According to the designer Heatherwick, they were inspired by the “phenomenal glasshouses” of Joseph Paxton. The complex self-supporting glass-and-steel structures make visitors feel like standing inside a spiraling vortex. The sense of movement in architectural style echoes with the dynamic flow of warm air pumped in from the distillery meanwhile carrying the exotic smell of botanicals that pervades the spaces (Arup 2026).
Stainless Steel Applied to the Glasshouses of Bombay Sapphire Distillery
The complex design of the glasshouses came into reality thanks to the advanced numerical 3D modelling and simulation. The whole structurers were made from 893 individually shaped two-dimensionally curved glass, contained within more than 1.25 kilometers of bronze-colored stainless steel frames (Architizer 2026). The framing was produced from laser cut stainless steel plates, jointed by a series of metal connectors in a staggered manner. Whether the shapes of stainless steel plates, connector geometry or the curved glasses were stemmed directly from the 3D model.
Laser Cut Stainless Steel Plates from CIVMATS China
CIVMATS can process famous brand stainless steel plates into your desired shapes via laser cutting technology for clean edge and high precision, as in the case of Bombay Sapphire Distillery. Meanwhile, non-standard stainless steel plates are also available per your specific demand upon production. Grades, dimensions and solution treatments are customizable for your choice.
If you are looking for stainless steel materials from China, whether for flat products like stainless steel plate sheet coil strip, or for long products such as stainless steel pipe tube, bar, wire & rope, CIVMATS aspire to be your first and best choice from China. Choose CIVMATS, choose reliability and safety in China.
