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The Irish Whiskey Collection is the centrepiece of the new T1 store in Dublin |
IRELAND. London-based airport retail specialist The Design Solution has hailed the opening of the new-look Irish Whiskey Collection at Dublin Airport T1, through Aer Rianta International, which it helped to deliver.
As reported, the Irish whiskey zone is one of the highlights of the €8 million transformation of the T1 airside commercial environment.
Using research based on the shopping needs of both Irish and international travellers, The Design Solution developed a store that stocks 371 whiskies from 15 different countries. This includes 121 Irish whiskeys, 191 Scotch whiskies, 32 American and 31 world whiskies from countries such as Finland (Teerenpeli), India (Amrut), Taiwan (Kavalan), Australia (Hellyers Road), Holland, Sweden and New Zealand (Doublewood). There are also six stand-alone glorifiers housing limited edition high-end whiskies priced up to €6,000.
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The store features close to 400 whiskies from around the world |
Suspended above the centre of the store’s circular tasting bar is an eye-catching, curved copper sculpture created by Irish artist Shane Holland, who took his inspiration from the copper pot stills used in the Irish whiskey industry, and informed by the original Design Solution conceptual design.
Reflecting the growing importance of wine to travel retail, ARI’s The Loop also boasts a new concept, The Wine Goose Chase. This shop features a selection of over 70 wines from France, Australia, New Zealand, Chile and the US, all of which have an Irish provenance.
The Design Solution Creative Director Kevin Patience said: “This was a fantastic project to work on as we were able to create an epicenter, bringing the feeling of a bar to the heart of the buzz in this popular store. With a stunning emperado marble surface, the bar is also a functional piece of furniture which makes the most of the space – always a scarce commodity in airport stores. We took the original design we had created in Terminal 2 in 2010, which features extensive copper, and contemporised that heritage in a luxury solution that makes it easy for shoppers to explore and navigate the category.”
The Design Solution added in a statement: “The materials are said to evoke the feel of a gentleman’s club – with polished copper framing to wall bays that allow strong brand displays, back painted black glass and amber back-illuminated acrylic, which brings a glowing amber tone through the store furniture.
“The client brief required that primary elements of the established brand be maintained, but to evolve it to offer customers a contemporary and modern iteration of the Irish Whiskey Collection concept. The exposed ceilings are painted out in black to create an intimate atmosphere.”
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The design builds on the original Irish Whiskey Collection at Dublin T2 |
