The design takes into account the vision and the character of the business’ operation and branding strategies, as well as an environmental responsibility for the design of the space and its activities.
The Kensington Brewing Company (KBCo) is a small, independently owned and operated craft beer company located in the heart of Kensington Market, Toronto. KBCo started contract brewing at Black Oak in 2011 and have since moved on to Wellington County Brewery, in Guelph Ontario. In 2013, they retained SUMO Project to design their own production brewery, retail store and bar.
An important part of the project’s development entailed understanding and maintaining the brewery’s industrial activities and logistics without sacrificing the concept and creation of an attractive commercial interior space. The concept revolved around the idea of the transportation of goods and the client’s desire to emphasize the hands-on philosophy of Kensington Market and of the craft brewing community. With that in mind, the idea of treating the space as a port came about.
The main design features include the reutilization of 2 used shipping containers to create both retail store and public washroom areas. The brewery itself acts as the main focal point of the space with the imposing presence of massive stainless-steel tanks sitting on the basement and projecting on to the main floor revealing and showcasing the beer making process. Another highlight involves re-using beer kegs (PET kegs) as LED light fixtures to accent the social areas. Transforming the kegs into decorative artifacts and giving them a second life tells a story of environmental responsibility.
