Tasting Rooms @ Guinness Storehouse
Have you ever witnessed the ‘Universe in a Glass’, taken a sip from the ‘Fountain of Truth’, or wondered what is the correct way to experience the essence of Guinness in the Tasting Room? These are the names given to the series of new sensory spaces comprising the latest visitor experience enhancement to Dublin’s Guinness Storehouse. Collectively known as the ‘Tasting Rooms’, they are intended to “take visitors on sensory journey of discovery”. RKD Architects, working with Bompass & Parr, mixed scientific and creative elements to create a sequence of spaces that “heighten the senses of appreciation for the distinctive taste of the iconic beer from the very first velvet sip to the last lingering drop.”
The entrance to the Tasting Rooms exhibit is through the ‘Universe in a Glass’ corridor. The gates, permanently locked open, to this corridor are a replica version of existing gates within the Guinness grounds; steel gates enhanced with cathode lighting.
The ‘Universe in a Glass’ consist of “black” concentrically decreasing sections leading to the final portal with a finished internal height of 2.2m. Each of the sections is delineated by embedded LED lighting strips and aims to give the ambiance of entering a sacred and illuminating place. At the final portal one is presented with the “light passage”, a series of automated doors that lead to the illuminated ‘Fountain of Truth’.
The ‘Fountain of Truth’ is where you will experience the aroma of the Guinness ingredients and learn more about their individual journeys to becoming one, in Guinness. The aromas are delivered to you by clever underfloor ducting through a series of miniature sculpted columns fitted with aroma-emitting oscillators. The room is brilliant white – (you can’t hide the “truth”) – and adorned at one end with a bullion-sized “Golden” bar reflecting the “Golden Harp” on the glass. The bar is bathed in pure white light from the floor-to-ceiling light box behind the bar and throws the entire bar staff into dark relief. The bar is inscribed with “Arthur’s” signature and can be viewed in detail as you collect your precious sample before making your way into the ‘Tasting Room’.
The doors from the ‘Fountain’ to the Tasting Room are also automated and open upon approach leading you into the darker inner sanctum of Taste. In this panelled room with old Edwardian Club detailing you are instructed in the correct way to taste your sample of Guinness and truly appreciate its greatness. The room contains niches holding memorabilia and items related to the production of the essence of Guinness.
The entire exhibit is encased in black cladding to form a continuous box that encapsulates your journey of taste whilst travelling form dark to light to dark and back to light again.
Storehouse is the fourth most visited brand centre in the world and is constantly seeking new ways to enhance the visitor experience. Since the opening of Storehouse in 2000 RKD has thrived on the joyful creativity of modifications such as ‘Tasting Rooms’ and is delighted to be associated with such an iconic attraction.
For more information about the Storehouse visit our Guinness Storehouse project page.
For more information about the ‘Tasting Rooms’ read the press release.
Project photography by Donal Murphy Photography
