Coopers Brewery Brand Home

What began as a warehouse extension incorporating a museum evolved into an ambitious reimagining of Coopers’ identity. A triumph of the project was amplifying the original brief - a functional space for brewery tours - through a strategic engagement process. Early workshops helped Coopers see the potential for something greater: a globally significant, legacy-defining experience. The challenge lay in transforming a private industrial site into a sophisticated public destination while integrating highly technical brewing and distilling operations. Navigating operational safety, resolving a curved layout, and supporting Coopers’ entry into whisky production demanded bold thinking and precise execution to exceed every expectation.

The design was driven by a unifying narrative: bridging hospitality and industry through history. Extensive stakeholder workshops, global benchmarking & deep interdisciplinary collaboration with industry specialists shaped the elevated circular form - maximising visibility & referencing the brewing process. Layered radial programming connects public spaces with brewing functions, requiring meticulous coordination to accommodate linear processes within a curved footprint. Placing the whisky stillage underground introduced complex safety and operational challenges but offered environmental benefits & reinforced Coopers’ estate-quality ambition. What appears effortless required rigorous detail to deliver a seamless, brand-led visitor experience.

The Brand Home has redefined the Regency Park site, elevating Coopers’ community, national and international presence. Commercially, it diversifies revenue streams with tourism, dining, and whisky production. Environmentally, it integrates efficient thermal mass via underground storage and optimises building materials for longevity. Socially, it opens the previously private brewery to the public, engaging visitors in South Australia’s brewing heritage. Critically, it embodies craftsmanship and innovation, reinforcing Coopers’ values while futureproofing their legacy. The project has sparked significant public interest, enhancing Coopers' reputation and setting a new benchmark for brewery-based destinations.

•Siting: Positioned prominently on what was once Coopers private corporate landscape, the new building reclaims the area as a public destination – proserving green space within an industrial setting by maintaining a landscaped buffer zone. •Materiality: The four-material palette of concrete, timber, steel and copper reflects the precision, quality and craftsmanship that define Coopers’ identity. •Museum Bridge: The 50m glazed bridge preserves and showcases Coopers’ 162-year legacy. We extended the brief early on to work with specialist curators to embed narrative intelligence in museum and wayfinding curation – showcasing historic artefacts previously housed in storage and otherwise lost stories accessible to the public. •Hospitality Experience: A restaurant, bar, private tasting room, outdoor plaza & function space deliver a layered guest experience, extending the brand beyond beer. •Microbrewery: The 3200L brewing space allows Coopers to experiment with craft beer styles to supplement their existing product portfolio and launch into whisky production for the first time. •Whisky Distillery: A natural extension to Coopers' onsite maltings and experience in brewing and fermentation, distilled and matured on site. •Interior Design: Designed by studio gram, custom joinery, handcrafted furniture, cast glass walls and a sculptural staircase further express Coopers’ emphasis on quality and detail.