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PROJECT 1
Ad Gefrin Anglo-Saxon Museum and Whisky Distillery, Wooler, Northumberland
Ad Gefrin’s design teams combined traditional techniques and sustainable design practices with the resulting collaboration showcasing attention to detail, using traditional and contemporary materials
WORDS BY EMILY MARTIN
IMAGES BY SALLY ANN NORMAN PHOTOGRAPHY
MICHAEL GRUBB STUDIO has illuminated a brand-new museum that celebrates the Northumbrian tradition for whisky: Ad Gefrin. Located near the Northumberland National Park – home to the darkest skies in the UK – the studio was tasked with illuminating the museum, visitor experience and whisky distillery, and achieved spectacular results. The museum is located at the centre of the local village community in Wooler, an area steeped in Anglo-Saxon history. Michael Grubb Studio was directly appointed at the early stages of planning in 2019 by the local client to create the lighting design scheme. It was briefed to deliver a visitor experience in multiple areas including a working whisky distillery, barrel store, bistro, retail, function room, museum, and grand atrium entrance. Showcasing the Ad Gefrin brand and supporting the local community were fundamental to the brief as was using local companies and craftspeople to create a landmark and legacy that celebrated a rich ancestry for future generations to enjoy. The new building design was led by local Northumbrian architect Richard Elphick, with exhibition design by Studio MB. Ad Gefrin’s design teams combined traditional techniques and sustainable design practices with the resulting collaboration showcasing attention to detail, using traditional and contemporary materials. The use of natural light played a vital role in the design, with large windows allowing in daylight. After dark, minimal lighting was used to extend winter use and create a warm ambience, selecting a low level of brightness to respect the dark skies. All exterior lighting was kept low level and minimal, to assist with wayfinding along key routes around the building.
The impressive, domed atrium entrance sets the tone; light encircles the space, drawing the gaze up to a copper skylight.
Sophisticated, welcoming and warm lighting highlights the architectural design and fabric of the building connecting people with their surroundings. Due to its form, materials and the handcraft work involved in the design and construction of the atrium, its charm was also a challenge for Michael Grubb Studio, particularly for integrating lighting within the dome and spiral staircase. The lighting design team opted for an approach to suit the traditional construction techniques used, which required more time and consideration, but ultimately worked for this crafted, beautiful high-end space.
Melissa Byers, head of Michael Grubb’s Bournemouth Studios says: ‘The process of interrogating and challenging design often promotes innovation and benefits the end result. Typically, we could have chosen an encapsulated, acrylic, flexible linear product to suit the curvature of the dome. However, following a series of lighting tests, multiple straight shorter lengths of LED luminaires were chosen as they delivered a brighter lit effect, with a lower wattage output, whilst short lengths could individually be removed and easily upgraded or maintained over time due to the product’s design and materiality, making this approach both more effective and sustainable.’
The Bistro is a multi-functional bar, café and restaurant which caters for visitors and locals. During the day, the space is flooded with light, so it was important to select a design that had as much presence by day as it did by night. A decorative light feature was created using 270 spherical, glass globes internally illuminated by fibre optics suspended from the ceiling, a design inspired by Northumberland’s starscape. The lighting layout and installation of the optical fibres presented a challenge, due to the shallow, sloped, narrow, wooden slatted ceiling
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