Architects’ Showcase: Paul Hodgkiss on designing Luss Distillery

On the western banks of Loch Lomond, in the heart of the village of Luss, a striking new distillery has quietly risen from a place steeped in history. 

The new Luss Distillery, a multi-million-pound project by Loch Lomond Group, has repurposed the former Luss Smokehouse. The 5,362 sq.m site has been transformed into a vibrant destination for whisky and gin connoisseurs, and curious spirits newcomers alike.

With four distinctive buildings – a retail space, an immersive whisky and gin discovery area, the Ben Lomond Gin distillery and a café – a cohesive visitor experience has been created that merges production, adventurous discovery and hospitality in one integrated setting.

The creation of Luss Distillery demonstrates how modern construction and design can celebrate sustainability, heritage, and community in equal measure. 

Loch Lomond Group appointed Scottish creative studio Paul Hodgkiss Designs and brand experience agency Hot Pickle to spearhead the innovative design and experiential elements of the new destination, working alongside a broader team who brought the design and construction of the distillery to life.

From the early stages of concept was the vision to create a building that belongs to its setting rather than competes with it, with the design features taking cues from the natural rhythms of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park.

A key design feature of Luss Distillery is the beacon - a clean, four-sided diamond shape that appears throughout the space, from exterior structures and windows to furniture and signage. This distinctive diamond is a nod to Ben Lomond, historically known as the ‘Beacon Mountain’, where a fire at the summit once guided travellers across the lands.

The beacon symbol guides visitors through the Luss Distillery experience, appearing in the details of hand-crafted furniture, the viewing window to the copper gin still, and immersive elements that shape each visit. It’s a bold, unifying motif that reflects Ben Lomond Gin’s story of adventure, discovery, and connection, lighting the way for every guest.

Paul viewed material selection as being fundamental to the project’s design integrity, working closely with local producers to bring his vision to life. With a focus on locality, many of the materials were Scottish-grown or sourced and each stage of their processing relied on traditional crafts.

Paul Hodgkiss, founder of Paul Hodgkiss Designs, said: “The exterior of the buildings is clad in locally sourced Douglas Fir, preserved using Shou Sugi Ban, the traditional Japanese technique of charring wood to protect it from the elements. The timbers, milled just a few miles away in Alexandria, reveal a distinctive grain that changes with the light, echoing the shifting colours of Loch Lomond.

“Step inside Luss Distillery and you will find the same Douglas Fir forms the exposed structural framework, bringing warmth, strength, and continuity. A muted palette of slate greys, soft whites, and warm copper tones complements the landscape, and the glow of the gin stills within.

“The result is a design that feels natural, sustainable, and distinctly Scottish – a distillery that looks as though it has always belonged on the banks of the loch.”

Sustainability was central to the design and construction of Luss Distillery. In partnership with Scottish Water, ash, birch and sycamore trees felled during essential works were salvaged and repurposed into the distillery’s furniture and fittings. This approach ensured that the carbon captured during the trees’ lifetime remained stored within the building’s interior rather than released. 

The main timber frames were crafted by Gilmour and Aitken, a family-run sawmill located next door to Luss Distillery. The collaboration between the distillery team and their neighbours not only minimised transportation and waste but also highlighted the value of local supply chains and traditional Scottish craftsmanship.

Inside Luss Distillery, Loch Lomond Group worked with brand experience agency Hot Pickle to bring the stories of each of the brands to life. Hot Pickle created the interactive experience in the ‘Discovery Centre’ – a place where storytelling takes centre stage. Using various collaborative elements, guests will be able to ‘chose their own adventure’, delving deeper into the stories they are most interested in.

Patrick Hammond, partner at Hot Pickle, said: “There are so many rich stories that we wanted to weave together: from the distilling history and craft, the ingredients, the drinks and the stories they inspire, to the history of Luss, the surrounding landscape and the people who have lived or travelled through it, we wanted to create a multi-dimensional portrait with lots of strands and tributaries for visitors to explore.”

Inside the striking space, which uses film and interactive multi-media content, guests will uncover local folklore and myths from around Loch Lomond which have inspired the brands, as well as learn more about the people behind the crafts.

Through interactive Digital Drinks Explorer screens, gin enthusiasts can create their own signature cocktail, tailored to their personality and preferred way to enjoy spirits, while whisky lovers can explore the Loch Lomond range to find the dram that suits their taste, before enjoying a complimentary sample at the tasting bar. 

Working alongside its design partners, Loch Lomond Group has created more than a distillery – they have unveiled a new visitor destination that will appeal to Scottish and global travellers alike. 

More than a new landmark on the loch, this new distilling space for Ben Lomond Gin and brand home for Loch Lomond Whiskies stands as a beacon for responsible design and regional collaboration – proof that when design, landscape, and craftsmanship align, the result can be both enduring and extraordinary.