"During our architecture practice we felt the need to create a working space which could represent our work and way of thinking" says KOGAA Architectural Studio, a Czech firm based out of Brno, the country's second largest city. 

As post-industrial cities are increasingly left with unused complexes, buildings and brownfields, adaptive reuse has become an increasingly popular approach to breath new life into these spaces. When the firm came across a former distillery, they saw the potential to turn it into their new studio and activate the area.

"We do adaptive reuse projects with a vision, and a flexible frame that allows the buildings to act as an alive organism. It is our solution to build up our cities in a sustainable manner" the firm says.

The distillery is set up around their office space, as well as co-working studios. These functions are surrounded and interconnected by spaces that can host a range of variable activities such as a movie screenings, yoga classes, lectures, workshops, and parties. After all, this is a country where beer is cheaper than water and a bar has been placed in the original elevator to help. 

Called the social reactor, the complex is intended to introduce a participatory model of urban growth. A test site for the studio's slow development lab, the Distillery shows how a vacant property can become a vibrant spot. Located in the center of the city, the historical building is now home to a custom-made community inspiring creative confrontation, supporting innovative ideas, and accommodating outstanding events.