We are passionate about design, work hard and have fun along the way. Over the years, we have leaned more and more toward minimalism and a modernist approach to our designs while keeping eyes wide open to the environmental and built context. Add in the end user’s programmatic requirements to complete the march towards form following function. Historically, the term ‘modern architecture’ describes an architectural style lacking ornamentation and embracing minimalism, usually by incorporating the use of glass, steel and concrete. The Mid-Century Modern era emphasized bringing nature inside, a contradiction of materials and textures, bold and geometric forms among others. Modern design to us means functional, empathetic, sustainable, and edited design. Our derivation of this movement is ever changing with the needs of our clients, construction materials and sustainable strategies. We feel there is power in simplicity and continue to evolve, refine and explore with each design opportunity.
Firefly Distillery Wins National Architectural Woodwork Institute Award of Excellence
Thanks to the Architectural Woodwork Institute for recognizing the Firefly Distillery’s interior woodwork design and execution with a 2021 Award of Excellence. The purpose of AWI’s award is to “honor the Architect for design of product, the Owner’s support of the design concept and the Architectural Woodwork Manufacturer for the faithful execution of the design and quality criteria.” Firefly’s new facility certainly had this hat trick of criteria but with a side of craftsmanship, clear communication and trust among all parties; basically, an architect’s dream. The project was featured in the spring issue of AWI’s Design Solutions magazine which can be found here. Thanks to the teams at Lowcountry Case + Millwork and Trident Construction and to our client, Firefly Distillery, for trusting us with your brand and new facility design.
“We wanted to have a rustic feel to stay true to the authentic nature of our brand. Our architect spent a lot of inspirational time at the distillery and brought us many samples of wood from which to choose.”
Jay MacMurphy, General Manager, Firefly Distillery
“We have a great, long-standing relationship with Rush Dixon Architects. Over the years, we have worked on many projects together throughout the Charleston area. We have developed an excellent relationship of collaboration and trust. It was very refreshing to have such openness and flexibility from the architect, general contractor and the Owner on this project.”
David Stasiukaitus, CEO, Low Country Case + Millwork
“Low Country Case + Millwork proved, once again, to be master craftsmen for this project through suggesting detail improvements and impeccable execution.”
Rush Dixon Architects
Firefly Distillery | Good Times. Great Spirits.
When we began the design for Firefly Distillery’s new facility, the first step was to visit their existing distillery and tasting room on Wadmalaw Island, SC to learn their history, better understand their brand, see their process, and sample some spirits. (Spoiler alert: they’re good.) Before putting pen to paper, it was important for us to know how Firefly started, where they are going, how they differentiated themselves in the industry and thus what functional spaces and visitor experiences to help create within the architecture.
The next couple of years included distillery research (see our Distillery Homework blog), design iterations and construction. The new facility opened in February 2020 and enjoyed a few weeks of hosting a record breaking number of visitors before the pandemic dialed down indoor gatherings. Firefly was able to pivot their distilling efforts to produce hand sanitizer to meet the moment and are now able to safely host visitors at the outdoor courtyard, tastings on the porch and socially distanced outdoor concerts.
Highlights of our research and how it dovetailed into our design
Firefly is a locally owned, family business who was one of the South Carolina Lowcountry’s best kept secrets until their inspired collaboration with the neighboring Charleston Tea Garden yielded ‘Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka’. Ever since, they have enjoyed a national audience and are a destination for tours, tastings and events. Therefore the building program included a gift shop, distillery, bottling line, lab, a tasting room, spirits retail section and multiple places for events (weddings, receptions, smaller meetings and outdoor concerts.)
The Firefly brand is southern, approachable, and laid back in the best way possible; think sitting on your porch with a drink in your hand, friends nearby and bluegrass playing in the background. This told us that while this will be a brand new, code-compliant facility, there should be moments of patina and casualness. Specialty craftspeople really brought the ‘soul’ into this new building. Shout out to coppersmiths, Khalima Lights for their handmade light fixtures, Limelight for the signage installation, Gil Shuler for the branding graphics and Lowcountry Case + Millwork for sourcing the reclaimed wood and executing our barrel stave design.
The Firefly folks, while innovative and forward-thinking, are also nostalgic and rustic with a side order of DIY. This inspired us to deconstruct wooden bourbon barrels in the back of our studio and incorporate them into the bar and light fixture designs as well as source reclaimed wood for paneling and metal roofing from a former Firefly structure as an interior accents.
We don’t know much, but we do know how to keep good company. See below for some of the all-star collaborators and craftspeople:
Seamon Whiteside: Civil Engineering + Landscape Architecture
ADC Engineering: Structural Engineering
Charleston Engineering: Mechanical, Plumbing, Electrical, Fire Protection Engineering
Dalkita: Distillery Consultant
Trident Construction: General Contractor
Gil Shuler: Graphic Design + Branding
Limelight Custom Sign Company: Signage
Khalima Lights: hand-made specialty lighting
Lowcountry Case + Millwork: interior millwork including tasting bars, spirits retail display, reclaimed wood paneling and barrel stave details.
Chris Smith Photography: All photographs