project details

Client: William Grant and Sons
Location: Makati, Philippines
Size: 1076 sft.
Completed: June 2019
Type: Bar with Conference Room
Industry: Beverage / Spirits
Collective Members: Paperspace Asia


project summary

William Grant & Sons Ltd. is an independent, family-owned distiller and distributor with a global reach. Established in 1887 by William Grant, the proudly Scottish company is a leader in the international spirits industry and prioritizes running a sustainable business for the long term.

Recognizing an opportunity for growth, the company opened its first office in the Philippines in 2019 with the objective of converting the space to be a meeting point  for distributors to host their clients, as well as to meet and train bartenders on using the William Grant and Sons line of products. 

With the assistance of Paperspace, the company was able to:

  • Build on their existing office’s strong points through the creative mixing and matching of different design archetypes in one location.
  • Showcase the ingenuity and resourcefulness inherent in its brand’s storytelling through upcycled wooden planks and the industrial look of the trussing. 
  • Craft solid pieces that make a statement of gravitas to its distributors and clients.

the challenge

Located right in the middle of the country’s most posh residential areas and the hippest pubs and restaurants, our client’s office is not your traditional place of business. The space is primarily zoned into 4  functional areas: meeting room, lounge, pantry or working area, and a bar to do the mixing of drinks. The biggest motif it has going is its entrance—one that is in the form of a fire staircase.

the solution

An industrial theme was chosen to match the building’s compact setup. This design effect was accomplished by mixing different textures of wood, metal, cement, and brick across the space. The existing ceiling was removed to utilize the structure with trussing to further draw out the industrial look-and-feel.

Some key design features have been intricately planned to draw out the understated modern class and beauty that is commonly associated with the brand.  The bar counter was inspired by the Japanese technique called Shou Sugi Ban which is done by burning wood, then brushing and sealing it with oil for preservation. The bar counter thus lent a more subdued atmosphere to the area, allowing more emphasis to be given to the spirits stockpiled in it.

The work desk located at the pantry was a custom design by Paperspace specially for our client—the craftsmanship stands as testament to the exquisite detailing involved in this piece  with thick wood on top and solid metal legs.  The console was another highlight that aimed to convey a certain gravitas at the lounge. What grabs the eye is the antique cabinet in patina finish  from India, which looks like it is made of 100 percent metal but is in fact, wood.

For the conference room, Paperspace placed a layering of upcycled wood planks reminiscent of its distillery hubs. The elevated wood texture was sustainably sourced with used planks from existing old houses across various locations, which highlights the firm’s stride towards running a sustainable business in the long-term.

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