DC’s first rum distillery Cotton & Reed delivers naturally complex spirits and cocktails. Co-founders Reed Walker and Jordan Cotton chose CORE to create their 3,250 SF distillery and bar in a market building located at 1330 5th Street, NE. Nature and science merge in their philosophy of creating spirits and the architecture supports that notion. Inspired by the overgrown, dilapidated factories of Germany’s Duisburg-Nord Landschaftspark and the photography of Bernd & Hilla Becher, CORE took advantage of the space’s existing structure and condition while incorporating light and nature to offset the building’s factory vibe. The space is divided into processing and tasting areas. The still, a major focus in the processing area, is situated in the old elevator overrun and is lit dramatically. The oversized operable storefront and indoor/outdoor bar serve as major draws to passersby, providing a connection to the nearby market community. CORE developed a “sophisticated salvaged” aesthetic and neutral black and white color scheme to set off the pops of color from the old elementary school library shelf back bar, yellow “gazebo” and plant life. Taking inspiration from the neighborhood warehouse vernacular, black-speckled white-glazed brick for the façade and bathrooms and corroded steel are used to tie all of the building elements to the location.
Client: Reed Walker, Jordan Cotton
Project Team: Christopher Peli
Photography: Ron Ngiam
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