Design Takes Centre Stage at Titsey Taproom

A Sustainable Taste Experience: Titsey Brewing Co. and Sibley Grove Redefine the Taproom Experience.

For Immediate Release

Westerham, Kent, Tuesday 5th December 2023

Sibley Grove, a renowned design practice based in Devon, has recently unveiled their exceptional work on the transformation of Clarks Lane Farm into a state-of-the-art brewery and taproom for Titsey Brewing Co in Westerham, Kent.

This remarkable project showcases Sibley Grove’s hands-on approach and expertise in sustainability, resulting in a space that seamlessly integrates with its natural surroundings.

Nestled in the picturesque North Downs, the brewery and taproom boasts breathtaking views from every angle. Sibley Grove’s design solution brilliantly harmonizes functionality, proportion, and material selection, ensuring a perfect synergy with the landscape.

Undoubtedly, the creation of the new brewery and taproom posed significant challenges, given its location in an area of outstanding natural beauty. Sibley Grove rose to the occasion, coordinating essential enhancements for water, power, and drainage – leading the project team.

A new freshwater borehole, exclusively serving the brewery, was established, and a bespoke drainage system was meticulously designed and installed to manage the complex waste generated by the brewing process.

As a testament to their commitment to sustainability, the project includes micro-generation through solar PV, as well as EV charging facilities for both staff and customers. Sibley Grove’s design principles of sustainability, efficiency, quality, longevity, and value guided the selection of materials that were fit for purpose and built to last.

The exterior of the barn, exquisitely clad in FSC-certified Larch, guarantees durability for up to 100 years. To maximize natural light and reduce energy consumption, the scheme incorporates ample windows and thoughtful natural and mechanical ventilation systems that effectively control temperature and moisture.

Inside the brewery and taproom, Sibley Grove embraced a range of sustainable materials, such as Mosa tiles, known for their superior quality and full recyclability.

The use of Graphenstone, a breathable and washable paint with no VOCs, further enhances the environmentally friendly nature of the space. To maintain the authentic atmosphere, the project also features refurbished, high-quality lighting fixtures supplied by Skinflint, who actively promote their full-circle take-back system to prevent waste.

To arrange further comment and access to the case study please contact:

sibleygrove@marksgetset.com or telephone 01392 949040.

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About Sibley Grove:

Sibley Grove is an award-winning design practice offering architectural and interior design services, with offices in Devon and Cambridgeshire. The studio was founded by husband and wife duo Kate Sibley and Jeremy Grove, who met whilst studying at London’s prestigious Goldsmiths College. Before Sibley Grove, Jeremy and Kate spent nearly ten years working for some of London’s leading design practices. However, they became uncomfortable with the increasingly throwaway nature of the industry, its impact on the environment and its reliance on exploited labour markets.

Sibley Grove was set up in 2010 to respond to a growing need for change and to rethink how the industry approaches design and construction. By investing in better processes, we deliver outcomes that have a positive commercial, environmental and social impact. But how do we achieve this?

Don’t follow trends

The best projects are influenced by the history of a building, the cultural setting, and the context, not by conforming to trends. We purposefully avoid them in architecture and interiors because they are inherently unsustainable. While they allow designs to be relevant and popular for a brief period, trends build obsolescence into a product, which is counter-productive when looking for longevity and value. Ultimately, they accelerate material waste and the need for reinvestment.

Circular Design

Circular design is about value. It is about ensuring we source, use and dispose of materials, so they remain assets rather than landfill. At every stage of the design process, we consider where materials come from, how we use them and what happens to them in the future, be that 5, 10 or 100 years down the line. We work with manufacturers and suppliers in developing products and materials that can be regenerated, reused and recycled, or returned to nature at the end of their useable life.

Design for disassembly

The cornerstone of our creative process is ‘design for disassembly’, which means we consider how a product goes together and how it comes apart. The benefits are threefold: Firstly, it enables materials to be separated and reused in the future, supporting our circular approach to design. Secondly, it simplifies repairs. For example, in a hotel setting, demountable components can rapidly reduce repair times, saving money. Finally, creating furniture in this way makes it easier to reuse and refurbish spaces in the future, reducing costs by as much as 60%.

Sibley Grove believes that good design should enhance people’s lives and work in harmony with the natural world. The practice wants to reshape the world of interior design and architecture to one that values the environmental and social impact as much as quality, cost and aesthetics.

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