Originally established by Ivor & Susie Dunkerton in the 1980s on a small holding in Pembridge, Herefordshire, Dunkertons Organic cider is a well respected name in artisanal Cider production. By 2014, ownership was passed to their son Julian, and business partner Bean. Plans to expand production and widen awareness of the brand, led to the development of proposals for a new state of the art cidery facility, tasting room and retail counter at Dowdeswell Park, Cheltenham.

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Located within a former industrial estate, the design approach was taken to work with the existing building format, whilst seeking to drastically improve upon the visual & aesthetic provision currently offered by the building as found. The introduction of Cotswold stone walling and large format natural Oak timber cladding boards represent a tactile, haptic approach to the repurposing of the buildings, sympathetic to the sensitive context of the setting within the AONB.

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The choice of materials instill an element of craft in their on site assembly which is a fitting reflection of the traditional, hand made values attributed to both the processes behind Dunkertons cider and the bespoke nature of work undertaken by Dowdeswell Estates.

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The proposed frontage to the Dunkertons Cider production facility uses a traditional Oak Framed pergola structure as the predominant design feature together with the distinctive graphic styling delivered by retro-industrial steel framed ‘Crittall’ style glazing. Cotswold stone walls complete the envelope at low level, matching the coursing introduced as a visual plinth to the existing Portal framed building.

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Largescale planters, outdoor seating and festoon lighting provide an external breakout area forming opportunities for pop up events and seasonal inhabitation between production facility, tasting rooms and on site car parking along with the use of seasonally responsive planting, enhancing bio-diversity.  

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Elements of the new addition are reminiscent of the typical historic, semi- domestic farmhouse typology found in cider mills of yesteryear, with the underlying functionality required by Dunkertons’ own increased output and expanding production targets informing the footprint and order of the space.

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Internally the building features exposed Oak framing together with recycled and re-purposed timber taken from deconstructed vats & barrels previously used in brewing and fermentation processes. Roof lights provide diffused light into the arrival space, whilst Crittall framed screens allow for interaction and visibility into the production hall.

The resultant aesthetic is one of refined rusticity, entirely bespoke to the setting, yet immediately engendered with a sense of familiarity and being quintessentially of the English landscape.

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The former Cotswold Building Office block shares the aforementioned external aesthetic, with existing windows removed and replaced with Crittall framed windows and doors throughout. For enhanced ventilation, daylighting and general visibility, several of the existing openings, particularly those at ground floor level have been widened and lowered as part of the refurbishment works. Throughout the building, many non-structural internal partition walls have been removed, in order to provide multiple open plan of office, demonstration & showroom spaces.

 

Designed & Completed whilst Project Architect at R.R.A.