Rosebank Distillery, Falkirk

2025 RIAS Award
RIAS/VELUX Architectural Heritage Award

Retail
MLA for Ian MacLeod Distillers
Contract value: Confidential
GIA: 4,448m²

A striking blend of preservation, sustainability and contemporary design, this project is a triumphant revival of a long-abandoned Falkirk landmark. 

Once considered lost, the Rosebank Distillery has been thoughtfully brought back to life following its closure in 1993, overcoming significant challenges in the process. Its successful restoration by architect MLA showcases how careful planning and strong collaborative working relationships can breathe new life into heritage sites and contribute meaningfully to their surrounding communities.

The jury was impressed by the depth of engagement and ambition shown by the design team, working closely with the client, planning authorities and heritage bodies to navigate complex constraints – including contamination, conservation, coal mining risk and listed structures. 

The retention and restoration of the chimney, lockkeeper’s cottage and red-brick buildings reflect a commitment to memory and place. A ‘dunnage’ warehouse was authentically reconstructed using bricks from the original building, while the 103-year-old mill was retained as part of the working production line, anchoring the new distillery in its historical craft.

What emerges is an elegant and intelligent interplay of old and new. The traditional materials and forms are offset by bold modern interventions – most notably the striking glass frontage that frames the gleaming pot stills within. This contemporary architectural statement not only makes the production process visible but invites the public into the heart of the distillery, reinforcing transparency and openness.

Sustainability was embedded throughout the project, with a clear emphasis on reuse, long-term adaptability and biodiversity. The site now includes outdoor spaces designed to support nature and engage the local community. Materials were carefully selected to reflect the distillery’s industrial heritage while meeting modern performance standards.

With its visitor centre, retail units, offices and hospitality spaces, the project is about more than whisky – it is a regenerative urban catalyst. This is a confident and evocative reinvention that balances memory, function and identity with skill and clarity, securing Rosebank’s legacy for future generations.

View all of our RIAS Scotland winners here, and all our RIBA UK Award winners here.

View the full RIBA UK Awards 2025 process.