Luxurious unveiling of The Dalmore Luminary Series' latest edition takes place in Venice
Looking to make something truly exceptional? That's what Ben Dobbin, senior partner at Foster + Partners, had in mind when crafting his latest masterpiece - The Dalmore Luminary Series sculpture No.3. Debuted at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2025, this beaut is a fusion of architecture, whisky, and sculpture, all neatly packaged into a collector's dream.
Co-curated with V&A Dundee, this third edition of the Luminary Series follows collaborations with Kengo Kuma (2022) and Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) (2024). In this latest edition, Dobbin explores the delightful tension between creative precision and fluid artistry, both in liquor and form.
The Lowdown on the Luminary Scottish Stunner
The star attractions are two distinct whisky releases. The Rare, an astoundingly rare 52-year-old Single Malt, and The Collectable, a 17-year-old Single Malt. The former comes with a sculptural bronze housing designed by Dobbin himself. Crafted with tensegrity techniques, the structure is bold, asymmetric, and suspended in time - a testament to the power of creative ingenuity.
Dobbin, known for his completed works like Apple Park in Cupertino and the Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco, shares his fascination with creating something that seems to defy gravity. 'Making something that sings to an audience - that's what it's all about,' he says.
The process of creating the sculpture was a deep dive into the world of The Dalmore, working alongside Master Distiller Richard Paterson OBE and Master Whisky Maker Gregg Glass. Dobbin was utterly captivated by the 'choreography' of taste in whisky-making - a harmonious dance of high notes, low notes, rhythm, and composition.
A Single Malt Sculpture for the Masses
The bronze casing for The Rare mirrors both the flowing topography of the Scottish Highlands and the complex layers of the whisky itself. With smooth curves and intersecting rods, the sculpture is a nod to the terrain that cradles the distillery and produces the whisky so celebrated worldwide.
Dobbin draws inspiration from the enduring beauty found in the cross-pollination of various disciplines. 'The humble object that fills a space many times its size,' he says, referencing the violin, 'is greater than the sum of its parts.'
The whisky itself, The Rare, underwent an evolving creative process, with Master Whisky Maker Gregg Glass revisiting casks that had been set aside years ago, including Calvados barrels. Time, after all, plays a vital role in both architectural projects and whisky-making.
Want a Piece of the Action?
The Dalmore Luminary 2025 Edition - The Rare is up for grabs via Sotheby's Hong Kong until 16 May, with all proceeds benefiting V&A Dundee. The Luminary Series, Leonie Bell, the museum's director, believes, is a perfect example of the power of design to transcend boundaries and elevate each element involved. Dobbin undoubtedly agrees - 'The collaborative effort represents a creative process of tension and release,' he muses.
Don't miss your chance to be part of this innovative fusion of architecture, whisky, and sculpture. Give your collection a braggable boost and immerse yourself in the captivating world of the Dalmore Luminary Series No.3. Sláinte!
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[1] Tensegrity Structures: Architecture, Engineering and Art[2] Exploring the Role of Bronze Casting in Modern Sculpture[3] Foster + Partners: A Firm Committed to Precision and Detail[4] The Art of Asymmetric Design
The Luminary Scottish Stunner, a collaborative effort between Ben Dobbin and V&A Dundee, showcases two unique whisky releases along with a sculptural bronze housing for The Rare. This innovative fusion of architecture, whisky, and sculpture, encapsulates Dobbin's exploration of creative precision and fluid artistry, which is a reflection of both his home-and-garden design philosophy and his lifestyle within the world of architecture.
