The existing buildings at the complex, which formally opens this week, were built during the Victorian era to house a mill that produced paper for English bank notes. The buildings were later abandoned and left derelict until the complex was bought by Bombay Sapphire, the gin brand owned by alcoholic drinks giant Bacardi, who commissioned Heatherwick to overhaul the site, creating a new distillery and visitors' centre.
"For the studio this is the first time that we've had the chance to build in Britain," said Heatherwick, who described the restoration work as an "honour".